Bellingcat Analysis Identifies Russian Kh-101 Missile in Kyiv Hospital Attack

In the aftermath of the missile strike on Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv, Bellingcat has conducted a detailed investigation attributing the weapon responsible for the attack to a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile. The assault, part of a larger wave of Russian missile strikes across Ukraine on July 8, claimed the lives of at least three children and left 16 others injured, according to the Security Services of Ukraine (SBU).

The attack sparked immediate controversy and disinformation, with Russian sources, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attempting to shift blame by falsely claiming the missile was American-made and launched by Ukrainian forces. Such claims were swiftly debunked by Bellingcat’s thorough analysis, which utilized open-source evidence including social media footage and expert consultations.

Key to Bellingcat’s findings were detailed examinations of video footage capturing the missile’s impact on the hospital. The analysis highlighted distinctive features of the Kh-101 missile, such as its jet engine and midsection wings, which are unique to Russian military equipment. Comparisons were made using 3D models and remnants recovered from the scene, reinforcing the conclusion that the missile used in the attack was indeed of Russian origin.

Further bolstering this conclusion were findings from missile experts like Dr. Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, who independently verified the missile type based on the video evidence.

The investigation also addressed alternative theories propagated online, particularly claims that the missile could have been an American AIM-120, typically used in air defense systems. Bellingcat’s second 3D model, created to represent an AIM-120, illustrated significant differences in design compared to the missile seen in the hospital strike video. Features such as forward fins and the absence of a visible jet engine were among the distinguishing factors that ruled out the AIM-120 as the weapon in question.

Bellingcat’s scrutiny extended to examining remnants of the missile recovered by Ukrainian authorities. Images released by the SBU, though initially challenging to geolocate independently, were corroborated by subsequent visual evidence. This included detailed comparisons of missile debris and the physical surroundings of the hospital, confirming the presence of Kh-101 remnants at the scene.

Additionally, Links to Bellingcat’s investigation on the Russian missile attack at Kyiv’s Ohmatdyt children’s hospital are being flagged as unsafe on X, preventing users from accessing critical news coverage without explanation.

On July 8, 2024, a Russian missile strike targeted “Ohmatdyt” Children’s Hospital in Kyiv, resulting in extensive damage. The hospital, Ukraine’s largest for children, sustained destruction to multiple departments including surgical, intensive care, oncology, and hematology. The attack killed one doctor and two civilians, injured 64 people, including children.