Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has assured that his team is dedicated to delivering justice for crimes committed by Russia during the ongoing war in Ukraine. During a recent visit to Ohmatdyt, Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital in Kyiv, which suffered a missile strike in July that killed two adults and a child, Khan emphasized the ICC’s commitment to addressing impunity.
Khan, who is the first British prosecutor to lead the ICC, met with doctors and patients outside the damaged intensive care unit of Ohmatdyt. Ukrainian investigators have identified fragments from a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile at the site, although Russia has claimed the blast was due to a misfired Ukrainian air defense missile. The United Nations has indicated it is “highly likely” that Russia was responsible for the attack.
Khan stressed the importance of investigating both incriminating and exonerating evidence, noting that the ICC is examining missile remnants to determine their origin. The attack on Ohmatdyt occurred amid a broader wave of Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, resulting in significant casualties and damage. The hospital, which had about 1,200 patients and staff at the time, was severely impacted, with key departments destroyed.
Solomia Fomeniuk, a 16-year-old patient who survived the attack, is now receiving treatment in Lviv due to the destruction of her unit. Her mother, Oksana, expressed skepticism about the ICC’s effectiveness in bringing about positive change, questioning whether any actions would truly impact the situation.
Khan and Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, who has been advocating for ICC investigations into the hospital attack, met to discuss the ongoing efforts to secure accountability. The ICC has previously issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and other high-ranking officials. Despite these efforts, Kostin acknowledged the lengthy process ahead, underscoring the ICC’s dedication to pursuing justice for as long as necessary.