Russia Strikes Strazhesko Cardiology Institute in Kyiv for the Second Time This Year: Operating Room Damaged

On October 20, Russian forces launched an attack on the M. D. Strazhesko Institute of Cardiology in Kyiv, marking the second such strike this year. According to RBC-Ukraine, citing a Telegram statement by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal (referenced via government channels), the target this time was the operating theater of the Strazhesko Institute under the National Academy of Medical Sciences.

Second Strike This Year: This Time on the Sixth Floor

The Prime Minister emphasized that Russian forces targeted the hospital once again. Last year, according to his statements, the strike hit the fourth floor of the institute, whereas on October 20, damage was sustained on the sixth floor where the operating room is located. Thus, within a year, different parts of the building have come under fire, shifting the impact zone to a critical area for surgical interventions.

Aftermath of the Attack: No Fatalities, One Patient Injured

The Prime Minister reported that, according to available data, there were no fatalities. One patient sustained injuries and received all necessary medical assistance. A publicly released photograph demonstrates the aftermath of the Russian drone strike: walls and ceilings in the operating room are destroyed, a layer of debris and dust covers the floor and surfaces, medical equipment including a device labeled Philips is damaged, and shelving units and a ladder have been overturned.

The Institute's Significance for the Entire Country

According to officials, the Strazhesko Institute saves people with heart diseases from all over Ukraine. The institution performs surgeries, rehabilitates patients after heart attacks, and, in their words, "brings Ukrainians back to life." The strike on the operating room thus affects not only a specific building but also the capabilities for providing specialized cardiology care nationwide.

Other Attacks on October 20 in Kyiv and the Kyiv–Odesa Highway

Earlier that same day, on the morning of October 20, a Russian drone struck near a gas station in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv, resulting in one fatality. Additionally, earlier that morning, according to reports, vehicles were attacked on the Kyiv–Odesa highway, leaving three people dead and several wounded. The incident at the Strazhesko Institute became yet another episode in a series of attacks recorded that day.