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

By Max Hunder

KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine's prosecutor general said on Tuesday that Kyiv suspected a senior Russian air force commander of ordering a missile attack on a children's hospital in central Kyiv in July that killed two people and caused extensive damage.

Shortly after the announcement, the Ukrainian security service SBU identified the suspect as Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash, who is said to have been commander of the Russian Long-Range Air Force at the time of the attack.

A statement said he had since been promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force.

In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Kobylash on suspicion of war crimes, including ordering the attack on the Ukrainian energy system.

Russia denies committing war crimes in Ukraine and says it did not intend to attack civilians.

“We are continuing the investigation to find other people responsible for the attack on Ochmatdyt,” Kostin told reporters, referring to the hospital.

He stood in front of the damaged clinic next to ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, who is visiting Kyiv.

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

Khan added that various sources indicate that a Kh-101 missile has been identified.

“From multiple sources and the work done, it appears that one missile, a Kh-101 cruise missile, has been identified,” Khan said. “A number of factors still need to be investigated in more detail.”

The ICC has issued arrest warrants against six Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin.

Putin and Russian children's ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova were charged by the court last year with the illegal deportation of children from occupied parts of Ukraine.

Russia has rejected arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court for war crimes as part of a biased Western campaign to discredit Russia.

Russian officials also say such arrest warrants would have little real-world impact because Moscow and other major powers such as the United States and China are not members of the court.

Kostin heads Ukraine's campaign to prosecute alleged war crimes committed by Russian forces; more than 140,000 cases are currently being investigated.

Khan called on those involved in the Ukraine war and other conflicts to abide by the law.

“Every leader, every pilot, every soldier – every human being has the choice to obey the law or to join the shameful list of people against whom arrest warrants have been issued for crimes against humanity or war crimes,” he said.

(Reporting by Max Hunder; Writing by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Timothy Heritage and Angus MacSwan)