On July 8, five Ukrainian cities — Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Slovyansk, and Kramatorsk — were targeted with a barrage of more than 40 missiles. The strikes hit apartment buildings and public infrastructure, resulting in the deaths of 31 people and injuring 154 others. During the attack, the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv, which treats 20,000 children annually, was struck. The hospital suffered collapsed ceilings, destroyed operating rooms, and bloodstained hallways. Two adults were killed at the hospital, while approximately 90 others were injured. Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, who met with ICC officials this week in The Hague, told Reuters, “For the sake of international justice, cases like the intentional attack on the biggest child hospital in Kyiv are worth lifting to the ICC.” A day after the attack, a United Nations rights mission said there was a “high likelihood” that a Russian missile hit the hospital. Russia has denied responsibility for the attack, claiming that a malfunctioning Ukrainian missile hit the hospital. “The allegations made by Kiev officials about a deliberate Russian missile strike on civilian targets are absolutely untrue,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. “Numerous photo and video reports from Kiev, which have been made public, make it clear that damage was done by a falling Ukrainian air defense missile launched from a missile system deployed within the city limits.” Kostin said that a formal investigation by the ICC could help establish a pattern showing that Russian forces are committing crimes against humanity in Ukraine. Last month, the ICC issued arrest warrants for two Russian officials over attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine. The court said the warrants are justified because there were reasonable grounds to believe the men were responsible for missile attacks carried out on Ukrainian electric infrastructure. Ukrainian officials also say they have documented evidence that Russian land mines have resulted in the deaths of nearly 300 civilians. "To disguise the weapons, the occupiers use various common items, including children's toys and candy boxes,” Ukraine’s security services said. “Additionally, Russian sabotage groups very often set up minefields to cover their retreat from front line and border areas." The officials say they are presenting these findings to the ICC.Ukraine’s top prosecutor is urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take action against Russia for a recent missile strike on a children’s hospital that killed and wounded dozens.
