In a significant escalation of war crime allegations, Ukrainian authorities on Tuesday accused Russian Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash of orchestrating a deadly missile strike on a children’s hospital in Kyiv earlier this summer.
The accusations come just months after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Kobylash and other high-ranking Russian officials for their involvement in attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine.
The missile strike in question occurred on July 8, targeting the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, one of Ukraine’s largest pediatric care facilities. The attack claimed the lives of at least two individuals and injured 35 others, including nine children.
Ukrainian security forces believe Kobylash, who was then serving as the commander of Russia’s long-range aviation within its aerospace forces, personally ordered the attack. Ukraine’s SBU security service revealed the accusations in a statement on Tuesday, emphasizing the gravity of the charges against the Russian general.
War Crimes Allegations and ICC Arrest Warrants
The Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office, working in tandem with the SBU, has charged Kobylash with violating the laws and customs of war, coupled with premeditated murder committed by a group of persons.
According to Ukraine’s security service, Kobylash’s direct involvement in the July 8 attack makes him culpable under both Ukrainian and international law.
The accusations against Kobylash echo the charges brought by the ICC earlier this year. In March, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Kobylash and Russian Navy Admiral Viktor Sokolov, accusing them of directing airstrikes on civilian infrastructure between October 2022 and March 2023.
Those strikes, according to the ICC, resulted in significant loss of life and destruction, particularly in urban areas far removed from military targets.
Russia, however, has steadfastly rejected these charges and the ICC’s jurisdiction. As a non-member of the ICC, Russia has consistently dismissed the arrest warrants as politically motivated, including the court’s previous warrants for President Vladimir Putin and his children’s rights commissioner.
Kremlin officials have argued that any Russian military action in Ukraine falls within the framework of defending national security and sovereignty.
Despite Moscow’s dismissive stance, Ukrainian authorities remain undeterred in seeking accountability. Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin announced the fresh charges against Kobylash during a press briefing outside the Okhmatdyt hospital, standing alongside ICC prosecutor Karim Khan. The charges, Kostin said, send a powerful message to those responsible for atrocities against civilians.
“The said representative of the aggressor country’s command [Kobylash] was notified,” Kostin told reporters, according to Ukraine’s Interfax news agency. He further stressed that international justice mechanisms would continue to pursue those responsible for war crimes, even if Russia attempts to shield its military leaders from accountability.
Promotion Despite Allegations
In a development that has shocked Ukrainian officials and international observers alike, Kobylash was reportedly promoted within Russia’s military following the July attack.
Shortly after the missile strike on Okhmatdyt hospital, Kobylash was appointed commander of the Russian aerospace forces, a position that elevates his influence and command over Russia’s air operations.
The promotion has been widely condemned by Ukrainian officials, who see it as a signal that Moscow intends to reward, rather than punish, those responsible for war crimes.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, denounced Kobylash’s promotion as “further proof of the systemic impunity enjoyed by Russian war criminals.”
“While the international community seeks justice, Russia promotes those who kill children. This is the reality we are dealing with,” Podolyak said during a press briefing in Kyiv.
The international response to Kobylash’s promotion has also been swift. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have called for increased pressure on the Russian government to comply with international laws regarding war crimes and civilian protection.
Although Russia remains uncooperative with the ICC, these organizations are urging nations that do recognize the court’s authority to enforce the arrest warrants wherever possible.
The Missile Strike on Okhmatdyt Hospital
The attack on Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, a facility well-known for providing critical medical care to thousands of Ukrainian children, has been one of the most heartbreaking episodes of the ongoing conflict.
The July 8 strike, which involved multiple missiles, targeted not only the hospital itself but also surrounding civilian infrastructure, causing widespread destruction in the heart of Kyiv.
Witnesses to the attack described scenes of chaos and devastation as the hospital was hit. Medical personnel, many of whom were working to treat injured children at the time, scrambled to evacuate patients from the building as smoke and debris filled the air.
“I heard a loud explosion, and then everything was dark. We were lucky to get the children out quickly,” said one nurse who worked at the hospital during the strike. “But some children, they didn’t make it.”
The casualties included two hospital staff members, both of whom were killed instantly when the missiles struck the main building.
Of the 35 individuals injured, nine were children receiving treatment for various illnesses. One of those injured, a five-year-old girl with leukemia, remains in critical condition, according to hospital officials.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky condemned the attack as a clear war crime, calling on the international community to hold Russia accountable for targeting innocent civilians, especially children. In a televised address following the attack, Zelensky stated, “This is not war. This is terrorism, and the world cannot stay silent.”
ICC’s Pursuit of Justice
The ICC’s role in investigating war crimes in Ukraine has taken on increased importance as the conflict drags on.
Since launching its investigation into Russian military actions in Ukraine, the ICC has collected extensive evidence of potential war crimes, including the intentional targeting of civilian infrastructure, forced deportations, and executions.
Karim Khan, the ICC’s chief prosecutor, has repeatedly expressed the court’s commitment to pursuing justice for Ukrainian civilians. “We are here to ensure that no crime, no matter how grave, goes unpunished,” Khan said during the press briefing at Okhmatdyt hospital.
He underscored the court’s determination to bring Kobylash and others accused of war crimes to trial, despite the challenges posed by Russia’s non-cooperation.
The international legal community has also been closely monitoring the ICC’s efforts, with experts noting that successful prosecution of high-ranking Russian officials would set a precedent for accountability in modern warfare.
Although arresting and prosecuting Russian military leaders remains an uphill battle, the ICC’s investigation is widely seen as a crucial step in documenting and addressing the human cost of the war.
Conclusion
As the war in Ukraine continues, the pursuit of justice for the victims of the Okhmatdyt hospital missile strike remains at the forefront of Ukraine’s efforts to hold Russia accountable.
The charges against Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash serve as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed against civilians in the conflict, and the ICC’s ongoing investigation signals that the international community is watching closely.
Whether justice can be achieved for the children and families affected by this senseless violence remains to be seen, but the quest for accountability is far from over.