At least 20 people were killed on Monday after Russia launched a massive missile attack against cities across Ukraine, including on a children’s hospital.

In the capital, Kyiv, at least seven people were killed in a rare daytime attack.

The Okhmatdyt children’s hospital, Ukraine’s biggest children’s medical facility, was hit in the attack, according to reports. There was no immediate word on casualties there.

At least 10 people were killed in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, with three killed in the eastern town of Pokrovsk.

Child patients were moved into the street after the Russian missile strike hit their hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine X / @ZelenskaUA

The attacks included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, one of the most advanced Russian weapons, the Ukrainian air force said.

The Kinzhal flies at 10 times the speed of sound, making it hard to intercept. City buildings shook from the blasts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had targeted five cities with more than 40 missiles of different types.

Rescuers work at Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital REUTERS

The attack came on the eve of a three-day Nato summit in Washington, which will look at how to reassure Ukraine of the alliance’s unwavering support and offer Ukrainians hope that their country can come through Europe’s biggest conflict since the Second World War.

Sir Keir Starmer is set to attend the summit, his first international event since becoming prime minister.

A woman comforts a patient at the hospital REUTERS

He spoke with Mr Zelensky shortly after the election results came in and said that the change to a Labour government “makes no difference to the support you will see” from the UK in response to the Russian invasion.

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John Healey, Labour’s new defence secretary, this weekend announced a fresh package of military aid when he made an impromptu visit to Ukraine’s southern port of Odesa.

Women hold patients at Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital that was damaged during Russian missile strikes, REUTERS

Mr Zelensky, who is also due to travel to the US for this week’s Nato summit, said Russia had “massively attacked” Ukraine.

“Different cities: Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk. More than 40 missiles of various types. Residential buildings, infrastructure and a children’s hospital were damaged,” he said.

Plumes of smoke could be seen across the capital Kyiv, while video posted on social media showed the destruction inside and outside of the Okhmadyt children’s hospital

It was not immediately clear if anyone inside was injured.

But Mr Zelensky said in a social media post that people were trapped under the rubble of the hospital.

Vitaliy Klitschko, Kyiv’s mayor, said the bombardment was the worst attack on the capital since the start of the war.

Ukrainian firefighters work to extinguish a fire at the site of a missile attack in Kyiv AFP via Getty Images

Elsewhere, Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the military administration in Kryvy Rih, posted on the Telegram messaging app that at least 10 people were killed and 31 wounded following the attack on the city. Of those, he said 10 were seriously injured.

Kryvy Rih is Mr Zelensky’s home town and has been repeatedly attacked by Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The Russian bombardment comes as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Moscow for a two-day state visit to Russia where he is due to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.

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