The European External Action Service (EEAS) issued a statement by the Spokesperson where it condemned Russia's massive missile attack on Ukraine on July 8, hitting a children’s hospital, a maternity hospital, and residential buildings.
“By targeting Okhmatdyt, a symbol of Ukraine’s childcare medicine and treatment of children cancer, and attacking children, who are the most vulnerable, Russia once again demonstrates its cruelty and that it is utterly insincere about peace and peace negotiations,” the Spokesperson wrote.
According to international humanitarian law, hospitals are under special protection and children are never and can never be a legitimate target.
“For the past two and a half years Russia has been continuously terrorizing Ukraine’s population by waging its illegal war of aggression, intentionally targeting innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure massively across Ukraine’s territory, with large-scale missiles and drone attacks, increasingly using glide bombs,” said EEAS’s statement.
The EEAS added that deliberate attacks on civilians and non-military targets can constitute war crimes and may also qualify as crimes against humanity. These serious violations of international law are currently under investigation by international bodies, including the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The data we have shows that Russia’s attack on the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, “Okhmatdyt,” and other civilian targets across the country was deliberate.
“Russia’s leadership, all commanders, perpetrators, and accomplices of these atrocities will be held to account,” the statement added.
-924c3c302c27387e19f6c44aaeb98745.png "Maryna Kulakova")
