Ukraine Accuses Russia of ‘War Crime’ Following Military Hospital Strike

AFP/APP

KYIV, Ukraine: Ukraine has accused Russia of committing a “war crime” after a weekend attack on the northeastern city of Kharkiv, as US-backed ceasefire efforts continue to stall.

According to Ukrainian officials, six strikes hit the border city overnight from Saturday into Sunday, targeting a military hospital and nearby residential areas.

The attack wounded personnel undergoing treatment at the facility and killed at least two civilians in a residential building.

Dmytro Chubenko, spokesperson for the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, confirmed the two deaths and reported that 30 others were wounded, including children.

Emergency medical services described the assault as a “massive attack”, which reduced one home to ruins and caused extensive damage to houses, office buildings, vehicles, and garages.

The Ukrainian army stated that the attack involved Shahed drones, which damaged both the military hospital and nearby residential structures.

“According to preliminary reports, there are casualties among military personnel who were undergoing treatment at the medical center,” the army statement added. However, Kyiv did not disclose the number of injured soldiers, as it typically refrains from revealing military casualty figures.

Ukraine has condemned the attack as a “war crime”, accusing Russia of violating international humanitarian law.