Bombing Sick Kids and Depopulating Ukraine

Paul Niland on the brutality of Russia's bombing of a children's hospital and what it reveals about Putin's murderous plans for Ukraine

Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv after it was hit by Russian missiles on Monday 8 July 2024. Photo: Anton Shtuka/Associated Press/Alamy

On the morning of 8 July 2024, the Russian Federation carried out one of their most brazen war crimes since their all-out war against Ukraine began nearly two and a half years ago, when a missile strike intentionally hit a famous children’s hospital in Kyiv. The hospital was a national centre of excellence, one of the most modern-thinking and well-equipped hospitals in the country. As a result of this deliberate act, 33 people lost their lives and almost 200 were wounded.

The missile struck in broad daylight, leaving therefore a trail of irrefutable evidence as to the type and origin of the weapon. It also occurred right on the eve of the 75^th NATO anniversary summit being held in Washington DC on 9 and 10 July. This war crime is a challenge to NATO, a question is being put to western leaders, “what are you going to do about it?”. If the answer is “nothing” then Putin will take this as a green light for future such atrocities. The answer from NATO, therefore, simply cannot be “nothing”.

This attack, as brutal and cruel and cynical as it was, is just yet another atrocity, but our deeper concern should be for the atrocity that is clearly now Russia’s wider plan for Ukraine: the depopulation of the country. This is a goal that they want to achieve everywhere and they have clearly developed three distinct tactics to accomplish that aim. Those tactics are: 1) where they are within range, localised destruction with artillery. 2) In Kharkiv, to make life in the city unbearable through unrelenting “glide bomb” attacks. 3) To make the entirety of Ukraine uninhabitable through the systemic destruction of infrastructure (heating and power) necessary for the regular functioning of society.