Russian Strike on Ukrainian Children's Hospital Injures Nine, Including Four Children: Escalating Humanitarian Crisis

Separate Russian strikes on the southern region of Odesa have resulted in widespread power outages. (Representational)

Ukrainian officials reported Wednesday that a Russian strike on a children's hospital in southern Ukraine injured at least nine people, including four children. Ukraine has condemned this attack as a "war crime".

The strike targeted Kherson, a city that was temporarily under Russian occupation in 2022. Despite Russian forces withdrawing, the city continues to experience regular bombardment from Russian troops positioned across the Dnipro river, which currently serves as the de facto front line in southern Ukraine.

Throughout the invasion, Russia has struck numerous hospitals and medical facilities, though Moscow maintains it only targets military installations.

"The enemy opened fire on a children's hospital in Kherson," stated Ukraine's ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.

"Nine people were wounded -- among them four children and three medical workers."

City authorities released footage showing a building with broken windows, debris scattered across stretchers, and medical equipment with blood stains on the facility's floor.

"Targeting medical institutions and civilian infrastructure is not warfare -- it's purely terrorism and a grave violation of international humanitarian law," declared Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

In separate incidents, Russian strikes on the southern Odesa region caused extensive power outages, as Moscow intensifies its campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Similar strategic attacks in previous winters left millions without electricity and heating during freezing temperatures.

Energy company DTEK reported that approximately 27,000 households in the Odesa region were without power on Wednesday morning.

"The damage is significant. Repairs will take time," the company stated.

Ukraine has maintained its own retaliatory strike campaign against Russia.

Belgorod region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported Wednesday that a Ukrainian drone attack had killed at least one person and wounded three others in the border village of Shebekino.

Russia's defence ministry claimed its forces had advanced on the front line, capturing the village of Vyshneve in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region.