Ukraine identifies Russian suspect in July attack on children's hospital

Russia Ukraine war: Ukraine accuses Russian air force commander of ordering missile strike on Kyiv children's hospital.

Ukraine's prosecutor general said on Tuesday (September 10, 2024) that Kyiv suspected a senior Russian air force commander of ordering a missile strike on a children's hospital in central Kyiv in July that killed two people and caused extensive damage.

Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin did not name the individual but said the International Criminal Court in The Hague had already issued an arrest warrant against him.

In March, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash, saying he was the commander of Russia's long-range aviation forces. The ICC said at the time he was suspected of war crimes including ordering strikes on Ukraine's energy system.

Russia denies carrying out war crimes in Ukraine and says it does not target civilians.

"We are continuing the investigation to find other people responsible for the strike on Okhmatdyt," Mr. Kostin told reporters, referring to the hospital.

He stood outside the damaged clinic beside ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, who is visiting Kyiv.

According to Mr. Kostin, the commander ordered the firing of a Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile from a Russian bomber at 10.45 a.m. on July 8, the day of the strike.