Ukraine: Russian strikes hit largest children's hospital
Russian missile attacks on Ukraine killed dozens of people, injured hundreds, and damaged the country's largest children’s hospital, UN and Ukrainian officials announced July 8. Numerous commercial and residential buildings were struck in the wave of strikes on cities including Dnipro, Kramatorsk, Pokrovsk, Kryviy Rih and Kyiv, leading to the death of at least 36 and injuries to no less than 140 people. Kyiv's Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital was damaged with at least 16 injured, including children and medical staff, and two adults dead.
Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital is the largest multidisciplinary pediatric hospital in Ukraine. It has become one of the most important hospitals in the country since the start of Russia's invasion of te country, providing scarce laboratory and resuscitation services. Five buildings of the hospital, housing the departments of oncology, toxicology, traumatology and surgery, were damaged in the strikes. Children are now being evacuated to other hospitals in the city, as there is currently no light, water supply, or oxygen available at Okhmatdyt.
Casualty figures are not yet final as the rubble is still being searched. July 9 was declared a day of mourning in Kyiv and Kryvyi Rih.
UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Denise Brown stated: "It is unconscionable that children are killed and injured in this war. Under international humanitarian law, hospitals have special protection. Civilians must be protected."
In the period from March 1 to May 31, 2024, a minimum of 436 civilians were killed and an additional 1,760 wounded in Ukraine due to increased shelling by Russian forces, as documented in the recent report by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. Among the casualties were six individuals working in media, 26 in healthcare, five in humanitarian aid, and 28 in emergency services.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a press conference that Ukraine will convene a meeting of the UN Security Council, which is currently chaired by the Russian Federation, in response to the attack.
From Jurst, July 8. Used with permission.
Ukraine court convicts leader of occupied Luhansk region
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) announced July 2 that Leonid Pasichnyk, the leader of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic in the Russian-occupied territory of Ukraine's Luhansk province, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
In a press release, the SSU announced the conviction of Leonid Pasichnyk, stating he was found guilty under Articles 110.2 and 111-1.5 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code for encroachment on Ukraine's territorial integrity and inviolability, through prior conspiracy and collaboration. (Jurist)
The so-called Luhansk People's Republic is among those territories of Ukraine that Russia has declared unilaterally annexed. Russian leaders are also facing international war crimes charges.
Ukraine urges ICC to investigate Russian strike on hospital
The Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Andriy Kostin, urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) on July 12 to take up a case against Russia for the strike on Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital. (Jurist)
Russia claims capture of village in Donetsk region
Russia's Ministry of Defense reported via its Telegram channel that its forces captured the Ukrainian village of Urozhaine on Juy 14. The village, located in the Donetsk region, was seized by Russian forces early in the February 2022 invasion but was liberated in August of last year, according to Ukrainian deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar. (Jurist)
Ukraine orders evacuations from Donetsk towns
Ukraine has announced the mandatory evacuation of children and their guardians from towns in the eastern region of Donetsk, where Russia has been claiming advances. Te principal town named is Novogrodovka.
Hours earlier, Russia said its forces had seized a nearby village after claiming a string of villages had fallen to its forces in recent weeks. (Al Jazeera)
Ukraine has meanwhile received its first US-made F-16 fighter jets, with President Zelensky acnowleding the arriva of at east four. This comes as Ukraine's military says it attacked and destroyed a Russian submarine as it was anchored at a port in the occupied Crimean peninsula. (NYT, BBC News)
Russian troops battle to push back Ukrainian incursion
In a surprise move, Ukrainian forces launched an attack into Russia on Aug. 6 and are still holding territory inside the country days later. The aim of the incursion into Kursk region may be to draw Russian forces away from front lines in eastern Ukraine—where Ukrainian forces have been losing ground. Russian troops are battling to push back Ukrainian forces. (AP)
Zelensky submits bill to ratify ICC Rome Statute
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky submitted a bill on Aug. 15 that would ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The bill would establish Ukraine as a member state over which the ICC can exercise jurisdiction. Zelensky also introduced Bill 11484, which would amend certain provisions of the Ukrainian Criminal Code to be in line with the statute. (Jurist)
Ukraine parliament ratifies Rome Statute of the ICC
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted on Aug. 21 to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, making Ukraine a state party. 281 deputies of the Rada voted for the bill while only one voted against it. (Jurist)