More than 60 injured in Russian strike on Kharkiv hospital

In brief

• More than 60 people were injured in a Russian attack on a hospital in Kharkiv.
• Over 200 patients must be moved to other facilities.
• The strike occurred during a wider night of attacks that left many households without power.
• Zelensky arrived in Berlin to meet Chancellor Merz on the same day.

Attack on a medical facility

Russian forces struck a hospital in Kharkiv overnight, Ukrainian officials said, leaving more than 60 people wounded. (Ukraine-News: Mehr als 60 Verletzte nach russischem Angriff auf Krankenhaus in Charkiw – MDR) (Liveblog Ukrainekrieg: Charkiw: Mehr als 60 Verletzte bei Angriff auf Krankenhaus – FAZ.NET) Local authorities reported that more than 200 patients have to be transferred to other healthcare institutions, a task that places heavy strain on the city's remaining capacity.

Wider overnight attacks

The hospital attack was part of a broader wave of strikes across Ukraine during the night. Reports also describe hundreds of thousands of households left without electricity after energy facilities were hit. (Liveblog Ukrainekrieg: Selenskyj soll bald im Kanzleramt eintreffen – FAZ.NET) (Liveblog Ukrainekrieg: Merz: Selenskyj kommt heute nach Berlin – FAZ.NET) The day before, a humanitarian aid distribution center was bombed, and on the same day medical and energy infrastructure came under fire again. (Krieg gegen die Ukraine: Russland bombardiert Krankenhaus in Charkiw – tagesschau.de)

Diplomatic response

As the attacks continued, Zelensky travelled to Berlin, where he was received by Merz at the Chancellery. According to reports from the day, the Ukrainian president's focus in the talks is on coordinating diplomatic steps with Germany. (Liveblog Ukrainekrieg: Merz hat Selenskyj im Kanzleramt empfangen – FAZ.NET) Zelensky has also warned of a possible large-scale Russian attack timed to the US midterm elections, while Washington has announced new three-way talks.

Medical and humanitarian impact

The injuries add to mounting pressure on Kharkiv's health system, which must treat the wounded while relocating a large number of patients. Reports did not give details on the condition of the injured or on the extent of damage to the hospital building.