July 8, 2024
Contact: press@razomforukraine.org
Razom Responds To Massive Russian Bombing Of Ukraine, Including Major Children’s Hospital In Kyiv
New York: Today’s bombardment of Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital by Russia was one of several strikes around Ukraine resulting in at least 30 deaths and 130 injuries nationwide. The massive attack demonstrates again that Putin sees no norm as too sacrosanct to violate, no war crime as too heinous to contemplate, and no child as too innocent to target in his quest for imperial domination over Ukraine.
The destruction of one of Europe’s leading children’s hospitals, specializing in complicated cases of cancer and heart disease in kids, constitutes a brazen assault on international law and the notion of human decency. It is part of a broader terror bombing campaign unleashed by Russia against Ukrainian civilian targets.
Today, Razom volunteers and staff joined hundreds of Kyivans on the grounds of the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital to provide immediate support and deliver gloves, protective equipment, and water. Since 2016, Razom for Ukraine (Razom) has been working with hundreds of hospitals throughout Ukraine and will continue to support their lifesaving work with supplies, expertise and funds.
“We are gutted by yet another indiscriminate and brutal attack on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, particularly as innocent, critically ill children and their caregivers were the unfortunate victims,” said Dora Chomiak, Razom’s CEO, “Our colleagues across Razom are as determined as ever to save lives and to bring a lasting victory by delivering aid, and by advocating for a stronger U.S. policy that defends Ukraine against Russia’s violence.”
Currently, Razom is working with the leadership of the Okhmatdyt hospital, providing supplies to doctors and nurses enabling them to care for their patients. Razom is also cooperating with the Ministry of Health and with other nonprofits to continue supplying urgently-needed medical supplies and energy generation. The Razom Health program will continue to advance its goals of immediate and long-term assistance to support the patients of this world-class hospital and other healthcare facilities across Ukraine under constant threat of attack.
We anticipate more assaults in the days to come. As Ukrainian volunteers work to pull children out from under the rubble, one thing is clear: giving Ukraine the means to defend itself is the only thing that can prevent such heartbreaking scenes from being repeated.
If Ukraine were permitted to defend itself by striking military airfields in Russia, it could protect itself and its vital infrastructure. If Ukraine had been able to destroy the Russian bombers responsible for today’s attack before they took off, countless lives might have been saved.
Razom is calling on the White House to immediately change its policy restricting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons by Ukraine inside of Russia. Ukraine must be enabled to strike all legitimate military targets in Russia to properly defend itself.
Support for Razom’s emergency humanitarian response efforts can be made by donating today.
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Razom for Ukraine (Razom) was founded in 2014 and is a leading US-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting Ukraine. Razom, which means “together” in Ukrainian, is dedicated to upholding the principles of the Revolution of Dignity (Maidan) and actively contributing to the establishment of a secure, prosperous, and democratic Ukraine. We deliver on our mission through five program areas: Razom Heroes, Razom Health, Razom Relief, Razom Advocacy, and Razom Connect, which enable us to provide humanitarian aid and support to Ukrainians, and advance Ukraine’s interests in the U.S. Since 2022, it has deployed over $116MM in aid.
