Ukraine indicts Russian general in absentia over missile strike on Okhmatdyt children’s hospital
That is according to the SSU report cited by Ukrinform.
Military counterintelligence and SSU investigators documented new war crimes committed by Kuvaldin.
According to the case files, on July 8, 2024, he gave the combat order to launch a missile strike on Okhmatdyt.
Investigators established that Russian forces attacked the medical facility with a strategic X-101 air-to-ground cruise missile, launched from a Russian Tu-95MS bomber.
The strike killed two civilians and injured dozens more to varying degrees. Significant damage was inflicted on the hospital building and its high-tech medical equipment.
At the time of the attack, Kuvaldin served as First Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of Russia’s long-range aviation. Shortly after the strike on Okhmatdyt, he was promoted and appointed commander of the Russian long-range aviation units.
Based on collected evidence, SSU investigators charged Kuvaldin in absentia under Part 2, Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (war crimes causing the death of people). Since he remains in Russia, comprehensive measures are underway to bring him to justice.
Earlier, the SSU also indicted Kuvaldin in absentia for commanding a missile strike on UNESCO World Heritage infrastructure in Lviv on the night of September 4, 2024.
According to Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, the Okhmatdyt strike killed a young doctor and the grandfather of a patient. At least 34 people were injured, including nine children. At the time of the explosion, over 600 children were in the hospital.
“This is not the only bloody mark on the record of this Russian general. He was previously charged in absentia for organizing the missile strike on Lviv on September 4, 2024, which claimed eight lives, including members of the Bazylevych family (Yaryna, Daryna, Emilia, and Yevheniia),” the Prosecutor General noted.
Previously, Ukrinform reported that Ukraine also indicted in absentia the commander of the 136th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of Russia’s Southern Military District, Colonel Ruslan Nazarenko, and eight of his subordinates for war crimes.
