Ukrainian Officials Name Russian Lieutenant General as Top Suspect in Okhmatdyt Hospital Attack

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin, along with International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan, announced after the visit the "Okhmatdyt" hospital in Kyiv that the Office of the Prosecutor General has identified one of those responsible for the Russian attack on the hospital on July 8.

"The Office of the Prosecutor General, together with investigators from the Security Service of Ukraine, has identified one of the individuals involved in organizing and carrying out this war crime. This person is a lieutenant general of the Russian Armed Forces, a former commander of the long-range aviation of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation. He is currently the commander of the Russian Air Force and the deputy commander-in-chief of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation. The investigation has established that on July 8, 2024, at approximately 10:45, he ordered his subordinate units to strike the Okhmatdyt hospital using a TU-95MS bomber carrying an X-101 cruise missile," Kostin stated.

Prosecutor Karim Khan emphasized the ongoing international collaboration in the investigation. "We are conducting our own independent investigation while also working closely with Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin and his team, as well as with specialists from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and other Ukrainian departments. Our goal is to establish the facts and determine whether a crime has been committed," Khan stated.

Khan also highlighted that the International Criminal Court has already issued several arrest warrants related to war crimes, including those against Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Russian Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova. "The ICC has issued warrants not only in relation to these individuals but also concerning other attacks on critical infrastructure and power grids," he added.

According to the Prosecutor General, this Russian general was notified in absentia of suspicion of violating the laws and customs of war, which is combined with premeditated murder committed by a group of persons. The maximum penalty for these charges is life imprisonment. The ICC is already investigating the proceedings against him, in particular, the shelling of energy infrastructure under his leadership. The ICC has earlier issued an arrest warrant for the General for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

On the morning of July 8, the Russian army launched a massive missile assault across Ukraine and targeted the biggest children’s hospital in Ukraine — “Okhmatdyt”, killing 2 and injuring over 50 people, among them 7 children.