Ukrainian law enforcement has formally charged Russian Major General Sergey Kuvaldin in absentia for his alleged role in a missile strike on the “Okhmatdyt” children’s hospital in Kyiv. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Office of the Prosecutor General reported that the attack resulted in two fatalities and injuries to 34 others, including nine children.
According to the investigation, Kuvaldin, who was the first deputy commander and chief of staff of the Russian long-range aviation, issued the order for the strike. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko stated that the crew of a Tu-95MS bomber launched a Kh-101 cruise missile, which struck the hospital around 10:45 AM.
The missile’s programming to predetermined coordinates indicates a deliberate attack on a civilian medical facility. The charges against Kuvaldin include violations of the laws and customs of war, coupled with intentional murder, as outlined in Article 438 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code.
As Kuvaldin is currently located in Russia, Ukrainian authorities have announced measures to hold him accountable for his actions. The SBU noted that this is not the first time Kuvaldin has faced charges; he was previously implicated in a missile strike on Lviv that occurred on September 4, 2024, which resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, including members of the Bazylevych family.
In addition to the recent attack on the Kyiv hospital, the SBU highlighted that on July 8, 2024, a missile strike targeted the same medical facility, leading to the deaths of two adults, including a 30-year-old doctor, Svitlana Lukyanchik. Reports indicated that over 50 individuals sustained serious injuries, while more than 300 others were affected.
The toxicology unit of the hospital, which provided dialysis for children, was completely destroyed and is deemed irreparable.
Ukrainian authorities have charged Russian General Sergey Kuvaldin for his role in a missile attack on a children's hospital, resulting in fatalities and injuries. This incident adds to previous allegations against him related to other attacks on civilian targets.