Ukraine Accuses Russia of War Crime After 'Deliberate' Drone Strike on Kharkiv Hospital

Ukraine has accused Russia of committing a war crime after a drone strike hit a military hospital in Kharkiv, injuring soldiers and damaging nearby buildings.

 

London, UK – Ukraine has accused Russia of committing a war crime following a targeted drone strike on a military hospital in Kharkiv. The attack, which occurred overnight, injured soldiers receiving treatment and caused severe damage to the medical facility and surrounding residential buildings.

 

Ukraine’s General Staff described the strike as a "deliberate, targeted" attack using a Russian Shahed drone. Photos from the scene show extensive damage, including a demolished entranceway.

 

Kharkiv’s governor confirmed that additional Russian drone strikes hit apartment blocks and a shopping mall in the city center, killing at least two people and wounding 25 others. Firefighters worked to contain fires ignited by the attacks.

 

"War crimes have no statute of limitations. The relevant evidence will be transferred to the bodies of international criminal justice," Ukraine’s General Staff stated regarding the hospital attack.

 

The weekend marked an intense wave of Russian drone and missile strikes across Ukraine. In Dnipro, heavy bombardment ignited large-scale fires, adding to the destruction.

 

Escalating Attacks Amid Intensified Russian Offensive

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia had launched over 1,000 drones, nine missiles, and more than 1,300 guided aerial bombs in just the past week. He emphasized that Ukraine had intercepted a significant portion of these attacks but called for a stronger response from the country’s allies.

 

"Russia is dragging out the war," Zelenskyy wrote on X, urging support from the United States, Europe, and Ukraine’s allies against Russia’s continued aggression.

 

In addition to airstrikes, Russia has escalated its ground offensive operations. Ukraine’s military reports a surge in ground assaults, with over 200 attacks per day in recent days—the highest intensity seen this year. The primary focus remains on eastern Ukraine, particularly in the direction of Pokrovsk, a critical defensive hub.

 

Military analysts and Ukrainian officials warn that Russian forces, previously slowed by poor ground conditions and heavy losses, are now renewing their offensive. Zelenskyy has cautioned that Russia may exploit ongoing diplomatic negotiations to strengthen its battlefield position.

 

Western officials share concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin aims to prolong talks while simultaneously intensifying military efforts, taking advantage of waning Western support amid shifting U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration.