Russia has already fired at the same hospital three times this year.
Yrjö Kokkonen,
Antti Kuronen
16.1. 11:24•Updated 16.1. 15:23
HERSON/HELSINKI Russia has again fired at Herson Children’s and Women’s Hospital, says ‘s reporter who was there Antti Kuronen.
– I was visiting the hospital when we heard a crash. Everyone took cover. Suddenly a louder bang was heard, says Kuronen.
After a while, the hospital staff went to look at the damage. The grenade had hit only twenty meters from the wall of the hospital. Nearby windows and the doorway had suffered damage, Kuronen stated.
It was apparently a Russian artillery or mortar round. No one was injured in the attack.
– It was remarkable that after the attack the staff just continued their work, Kuronen observed.
According to Kuronen, it is a large central hospital, which before the war functioned as a maternity hospital. Currently, there is no birthing activity in that building. Instead, children with health problems are brought into the house. In addition, the building houses an outpatient clinic for acute cases. Patients who need bed care are taken elsewhere.
The hospital in question has been the target of Russian attacks several times before. The latest attack is the third this year.
According to the staff, Russia fired grenades into the hospital area on New Year’s at 00:00. The incident is also told by a Ukrainian Ukrinform online magazine (you will switch to another service).
– It was the Russians’ New Year’s greeting, says Antti Kuronen.
The picture he took shows a hospital wall that has been hit by a bullet. According to Kuronen’s information, there was a department for newborns in that section.
The hospital was also fired upon last week.
According to Kuronen’s information, there are no military targets near the hospital. According to Kuronen, setting fire to the hospital is definitely a war crime.
Read more:
The Guardian: Kherson maternity hospital hit as Russia continues bombardment (you switch to another service)
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