Sept. 10, 2024, 2:51 p.m.
(Photo collage: Intent)
The Prosecutor General's Office, together with the Security Service of Ukraine, identified one of the persons involved in organizing and carrying out the attack on the Ohmadyt children's hospital.
According to the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office, the suspicion was served in absentia on Lieutenant General of the Russian Armed Forces, currently the commander of the Russian Air Force, Sergei Kobylash.
Born on April 1, 1965 in Odesa, Sergey Kobylash is a Russian military commander and war criminal. He has been the Commander of the Russian Long-Range Aviation since September 16, 2016. During Russia's invasion of Ukraine, under his leadership, a carpet bombing by heavy bombers was carried out in Mariupol, which led to significant damage to civilian infrastructure and civilian casualties.
According to the investigation, it was this Russian commander who, on July 8, 2024, ordered his subordinate units to strike the children's hospital with an X-101 cruise missile using a Tu-95MS missile carrier-bomber. At approximately 10:45 a.m., it hit one of the medical buildings where children were receiving medical care at the time.
Missiles of this type are used to hit ground targets with known coordinates.
The Russian strike killed two civilians - a young doctor and the grandfather of a young patient. At least 34 people, including 9 children, were injured. In total, more than 600 children were in the hospital at the time of the strike. The hospital premises were destroyed. Valuable medical equipment that was essential for the treatment of children was destroyed.
Based on the collected evidence, this representative of the command of the aggressor country's troops was notified of suspicion of violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder committed by a group of persons (Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The Office of the Prosecutor General noted that the International Criminal Court is already investigating the proceedings against this officer and has already issued an arrest warrant for him for shelling energy infrastructure. The Office of the Prosecutor General coordinates all actions in this proceeding with the Office of the ICC Prosecutor and is considering various possibilities of cooperation, starting with the provision of case files before the transfer of proceedings.
Кирило Бойко