Author: Gunduz Mamedov, PhD in Law, Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine in 2019-2021, expert of the Coalition "Ukraine. Five in the Morning"
Every war has rules. No matter how strange it may sound in the conditions in which every Ukrainian is now. Every war shows us that these rules are constantly being violated. And this suggests that only the inevitability of punishment should bring the world closer to sustainable peace.
In the more than 10 years of war, Ukraine has experienced many terrible crimes. There are many scars in Ukraine: scars on people's bodies and destinies. And also on our land: thousands of destroyed houses, hospitals, schools and kindergartens. There are hundreds of torture chambers and countless graves of those who died because of the war.
Every day, these scars are becoming more and more numerous. However, even in such circumstances, there are crimes that are so cynical that they cannot leave anyone indifferent. And the missile hit on Okhmatdyt is certainly among them.
"Okhmatdyt is the largest children's hospital in Ukraine. It is the institution that treats the most serious diagnoses of young patients, including cancer. For many children, this is the last chance to recover and regain their health, full life and childhood. A rocket hit is something that can have irreparable consequences not only because of injuries, but also as an indirect consequence. For many children, stress and simply being in non-sterile conditions is a threat.
According to the Ministry of Health, many departments of the hospital were damaged: the toxicology building with the chronic and acute intoxication department was completely destroyed; almost all windows in the old surgical building were smashed, two surgical and two somatic departments, the intensive care unit and the operating unit were damaged; in the new building, eight surgical departments, five oncology departments, two intensive care units, the operating unit, and the radiology and radiation therapy departments were damaged.
At the time of the missile hit, there were more than 600 patients and about the same number of doctors, as well as parents and visitors. The exact number of victims is still unknown, as the rubble is still being cleared.
When you see such crimes, it is very easy to start evaluating them in terms of good and evil. And this is natural. But I believe it is equally important to give them a legal assessment and bring to justice all those responsible: ideologues, commanders, and direct perpetrators. The missile attack on the Okhmatdyt hospital has all the hallmarks of a war crime.
09.07.2024
