MOSCOW 

The Russian Defense Ministry rejected on Monday Ukraine's claims about a strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv.

The ministry said in a statement that Ukraine's claims "about Russia's allegedly deliberate missile strike on civilian targets are absolutely untrue."

"Numerous published photos and video footage from Kyiv unequivocally confirm the fact of destruction due to the fall of a Ukrainian air defense missile launched from an anti-aircraft missile system in the city," it said.

The ministry emphasized that Kyiv often makes such statements ahead of meetings with NATO representatives.

"The purpose of such provocations is to ensure further financing of the Kyiv regime and the continuation of the war to the last Ukrainian," it argued.

According to the ministry, this morning's "group strike with high-precision long-range weapons" targeted "Ukrainian military industry facilities and Ukraine's armed forces air bases."

"The objectives of the strike have been achieved. The assigned objects are hit," it said.

Ukraine accuses Russia of 'striking children's hospital'

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Monday of striking a children's hospital in Kyiv.

According to the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration Serhiy Popko, at least seven people were killed and 25 were injured in the attack on the capital. 

Popko reported damage to some buildings and vehicles in the Solomian, Holosiiv, Darnytsia, and Sviatoshyn districts from the missile fragments and noted that the children's hospital in the Shevchenko district was damaged.

Independent confirmation of claims of both sides is impossible due to the ongoing war.

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