“We were sure they would not attack here”

Thousands of people reached the spot, removing bricks and debris by hand Devastating Russian attack on children’s hospital in Kievafter A massive bombing in which more than 30 people died Across the country. Shortly after survivors of the attack emerged from a basement bunker at the Okhtmadite Children’s Hospital, crowds gathered to form a human chain and remove debris piece by piece.

Residents, rescuers, military personnel and doctors in blood-soaked gowns They helped clear debris from the destroyed hospital after receiving reports that people were trapped under rubble. Large areas of the hospital were devastated by the attack, which Ukrainian officials say was caused by a Russian cruise missile.

Two nearby hospital blocks were also severely damaged by the blast Most of the windows were blown out and blood was spattered on the walls.

As missiles rained down on Kiev, Pavlo Holovy ran to the children’s hospital where his son was recovering from a recent operation. Smoke was still rising from the rubble when he arrived.

The 37-year-old man said he was It is impossible to express my feelings after finding my wife and son safe“To be honest, the main thing was to see my wife and my son, I didn’t pay attention to the rest,” Holovy said.

“My son Sasha was in the trauma section. There was an explosion and we had to get out of there very quickly. There were many injured children under the rubble“Natalia Sheyan told Efe while standing outside the hospital with her baby waiting to be transferred to her native region, Chernigiv, north of Kiev.

Sheyan explained to him Your child should return for treatment within a monthBut there are fears that won’t be possible because of the devastation caused by the attack. “His doctor also has a head injury which he got while protecting another child during the explosion,” the clearly affected mother said. “I don’t know what else to say, I’m in a state of ‘shock’ and I don’t understand how they could attack a hospital with children,” the woman said before hugging her son again.

All around them, scores of ambulances occupied the blocked road, carrying children in the most dangerous condition. Fire engines entered the perimeter of the hospital to continue clearing the debris. Marina Ploskonos’ 4-year-old son underwent surgery for cervical tuberculosis last Friday. “My son is scared,” she told the AP agency. “This shouldn’t happen, this is a children’s hospital,” she said, crying.

According to Natalia Svidler, 40, Patients, staff and relatives ran towards the basement The alarm sounded early Monday after the airstrike. “We heard a loud explosion and then the ceiling in the basement collapsed a little bit,” said Svidler, whose son Ilya was due to undergo surgery in hospital this weekend. “Of course, everyone was very scared. “Everyone started screaming and running.”

After the early morning air raid siren, The medical staff took immediate action to take the patients away and in the basement of the employee center. “For some reason, we always thought that ochmadite was safe,” said Nina, a 68-year-old hospital employee.

“We were 100% sure (the Russians) would not attack here”he told AFP, describing the frantic haste with which staff rushed children on drips into the bunker. “I would rather be killed! I have already lived. But why these children?”