President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemns the “deliberate” hospital strike as Moscow escalates attacks amid Ukraine’s counteroffensive on Russian infrastructure.
In one of the deadliest civilian attacks in recent months, a Russian airstrike hit a children’s hospital in Kherson, southern Ukraine, on Wednesday, injuring at least nine people, including four children. The assault came hours after Ukrainian forces launched drone strikes on multiple Russian energy facilities, deepening a cycle of retaliatory attacks between the two countries.
Zelenskyy Condemns “Deliberate” Russian Strike
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the hospital attack as a “deliberate act of terror”, saying it proves Moscow has no interest in peace.
“They could not have been unaware of where they were striking,” Zelenskyy said in a televised address. “This was a deliberate Russian attack against children, medical personnel, and the most basic right to life.”
At the time of the explosion, roughly 100 people were inside the Kherson regional children’s hospital. The youngest among the wounded was just eight years old, according to Ukrainian officials. Emergency crews worked through the night to clear debris and rescue trapped survivors.
Moscow has not commented on the incident. Russia has frequently denied targeting civilian infrastructure despite mounting evidence from independent investigators and international observers.
Kyiv’s Retaliatory Drone Strikes on Russian Energy Infrastructure
Earlier in the day, Ukraine intensified its drone campaign against key Russian energy and industrial facilities. Ukrainian forces targeted refineries in the Mari El and Ulyanovsk regions, as well as a gas plant in Budyonnovsk, in the southern Stavropol area.
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed responsibility for the attacks, calling them part of a strategic effort to undermine Russia’s war logistics and energy revenues.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defences destroyed more than 100 Ukrainian drones overnight, including six near Moscow and dozens over Crimea and western Russian regions. The attacks caused widespread disruptions, temporarily closing three of Moscow’s four airports and grounding flights across the country.
Ukraine’s Power Grid Under Fire
Ukraine’s Energy Ministry reported renewed Russian strikes targeting energy systems in the Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions, causing blackouts and infrastructure damage. Power utility DTEK said that nearly 27,000 households in Odesa were without electricity following the overnight bombardment.
Officials have warned that Moscow’s winter strategy may again focus on crippling Ukraine’s energy network, a tactic widely condemned as an attempt to break civilian morale.
Espionage Arrest and Escalating Tensions
In a separate development, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) detained a former European military instructor, accusing him of spying for Russia and passing classified information about Ukrainian troop positions. The SBU said the individual had been under surveillance for weeks and was caught with encrypted communication devices.
The arrest underscores Kyiv’s growing concerns about foreign infiltration and hybrid warfare as the conflict stretches into its fourth year.
Putin Boasts of Nuclear Weapons Tests
While Ukrainian cities reeled from the hospital bombing, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the successful testing of a nuclear-powered underwater drone, named Poseidon, which he claimed is “impossible to intercept.”
“Another test was conducted for a new prospective system – the Poseidon, equipped with a nuclear power unit,” Putin said during a visit to a military hospital. “It can reach any continent on Earth.”
The announcement marks Moscow’s second nuclear weapons test in a week, following the launch of the Burevestnik cruise missile, said to have “unlimited range.”
U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the move as “not appropriate” and urged Putin to focus on ending the war in Ukraine. Trump recently cancelled a planned Budapest summit with Putin, citing the Kremlin’s unwillingness to negotiate peace.
Rising European Security Fears
Tensions also rose in Europe after Polish Air Force jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea. The Ilyushin IL-20 aircraft was detected flying without a transponder or flight plan and was escorted away by two Polish MiG-29s.
While Poland confirmed its airspace was not violated, the incident added to growing anxiety in NATO capitals about Russia’s military posturing and potential escalation near the alliance’s borders.
Poland, one of Ukraine’s strongest allies, continues to serve as a major logistical hub for Western weapons and humanitarian aid, and is rapidly expanding its armed forces in response to the perceived Russian threat.
The Road Ahead
The Kherson hospital attack has renewed calls from Ukraine and its allies for stronger international sanctions and accountability for Russian war crimes. Western diplomats are expected to push for a United Nations Security Council meeting to address the growing humanitarian toll of the conflict.
As both sides escalate their military operations — Ukraine targeting Russia’s industrial base and Moscow striking civilian infrastructure — analysts warn that the war is entering a more destructive and unpredictable phase.
For the families of Kherson, however, the cost is already unbearable.
Leave a Reply