Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on deadly strikes in Ukraine

NEW YORK (July 8, 2024) – “I am horrified by the news out of Ukraine today that at least 150 people have reportedly been killed or injured, and a children’s hospital severely damaged in Kyiv, during a wave of deadly missile strikes across the country.

“The barrage of missiles fell in cities including Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. We do not yet know the number of children killed or injured in these attacks.

“My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones. 

“The attack on Okhmatdyt Hospital, the country’s largest medical center for children, is yet another brutal reminder that nowhere is safe for children in Ukraine. Hospitals should be safe havens, and they are afforded a special level of protection under international law. Civilians, including children and the facilities and services they rely on, must always be protected.

“Nearly three years since the escalation of war in Ukraine, there seems to be no end to the horror that children and their families are forced to endure.

“UNICEF will continue to work across Ukraine, including in frontline areas, to respond to the immediate needs of children and families. This includes providing lifesaving services and supplies, and mental health and psychosocial support. UNICEF is already providing emergency supplies to Okhmatdyt Hospital and stands ready to assist communities affected by today’s attacks.

“More than anything, the children of Ukraine need lasting peace.”

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About UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to pursue a more equitable world for every child. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more.

UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the American public to support the world’s most vulnerable children. Together, we are working toward a world that upholds the rights of all children and helps every child thrive. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

For more information please contact:
Jenna Buraczenski, UNICEF USA, (917) 720-1432, jburaczenski@unicefusa.org