Ukraine identifies Russian suspect in July attack on children's hospital

KIEV – Ukraine's prosecutor general said Tuesday that a senior Russian Air Force commander is suspected of carrying out a missile attack on a children's hospital in central Kyiv in July that killed two people and caused extensive damage.

Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin did not name the person, but said the International Criminal Court in The Hague had already issued an arrest warrant for him.

In March, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Sergei Kobylash on the grounds that he was the commander of the Russian Long-Range Air Force. The ICC said at the time that he was suspected of committing war crimes, including ordering the attack on the Ukrainian energy system.

“We are continuing the investigation to find other persons responsible for the attack on Ochmatdyt,” Kostin told reporters, referring to the hospital. He stood next to ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, who is in Kyiv for a visit.

According to Kostin, on July 8, the day of the attack, at 10:45 a.m., the commander ordered the launch of a Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile from a Russian bomber.

Khan added that various sources indicated that a Kh-101 missile had been identified, but that further investigation was needed.

Russia denies committing war crimes in Ukraine and says it is not targeting civilians. It has rejected ICC arrest warrants for war crimes as part of a biased Western campaign to discredit Russia. REUTERS