Russia violates international law with drone attack on Ukrainian hospital – JURIST

Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched two drone strikes on St. Panteleimon Hospital in Sumy on Saturday, violating international humanitarian law.

Article 18 of the Fourth Geneva Convention stipulates that civilian hospitals may under no circumstances be the target of attack and must be respected and protected at all times by the parties to the conflict. In addition, Article 12 of the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions stipulates that medical units must be respected and protected at all times and not be the subject of attack. According to Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, deliberate attacks on civilian objects constitute a war crime.

Russia is a party to the Fourth Geneva Convention but withdrew from the treaty establishing the protocol in 2019. Russia has never signed the Rome Statute and does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Although Ukraine has not ratified the Rome Statute, it has accepted the ICC’s jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes committed on its territory, making this attack potentially punishable as a war crime under the Rome Statute.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that the first of two drones destroyed several floors of the hospital and the second attack occurred during the evacuation of patients and staff. Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, announced on social media that rescue operations were underway as the government continued to deal with the aftermath and save lives. He also called on the world to draw attention to Russia’s targets, which include hospitals and civilian infrastructure. Earlier this month the The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a report that at least 184 civilians were killed and 856 injured in Ukraine in August. Additionally, Attacks by Russian forces on energy facilities in Ukraine may also have violated international humanitarian law.

According to the Sumy regional prosecutor’s office, there were 86 patients and 38 employees in the hospital at the time of the attack. Ten people were killed in the attacks and 22 others were injured. As of this morning, 113 patients have been evacuated.