The European Union and the United States responded to the attack by Russian occupiers on Kyiv on July 8, as a result of which the Okhmatdet children's medical center was damaged.
They believe that such a strike should be considered precisely as another Russian war crime against the Ukrainians.
Attack on Okhmatdyt July 8 — EU position
Nabila Massrali, Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at the European External Action Service, said that shelling of Ukrainian cities targeting children is unacceptable.
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— Hospitals enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law. Children are not and never can be a legitimate target; they must be protected at all times, — she emphasizes.
At the same time, Massrali continues, Moscow is deliberately attacking civilian targets and the population, which equates its actions to crimes against humanity.
— These and other war crimes are the subject of international investigations, including at the ICC. The Russian leadership, all commanders, perpetrators and accomplices of these atrocities will be brought to justice, — summed up the EU representative.
Attack on Okhmatdyt July 8 — US position
At the same time, Michael Carpenter, Director for European Affairs of the White House National Security Council, said at a briefing in Washington that the shelling of Okhmatdyt in Kyiv — a horrific crime that will be investigated.
— An attack on a maternity hospital, as well as a children’s hospital, is unfortunately not the first time that this has happened during the war. I expect that this impact is one that will require deeper study, investigation, — indicated the diplomat.
Carpenter added that such an attack, as on other civilian infrastructure facilities, constitutes a war crime.
