UWC urges world to hold Russia accountable for Okhmatdyt hospital attack

Leaders of the Ukrainian World Congress have responded to the recent large-scale attack on Kyiv, including Okhmatdyt – Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital. They have issued a call for global accountability, urging that Russia be held responsible for its actions. In reaction to the assault, Ukrainian organizations and communities around the world rapidly mobilized, with many posting about the incident and announcing urgent rallies to condemn the attack.

“I am deeply saddened and outraged by the barbaric act of violence that has befallen Kyiv Children’s Hospital, which was destroyed by a Russian missile attack. … Russia’s massive missile assault on multiple Ukrainian cities—Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Slovyansk, and Kramatorsk—has resulted in significant damage to residential buildings and critical infrastructure. This atrocity is another example of the ongoing brutal aggression and war crimes committed daily by Russia against Ukraine. I call upon all humanitarian bodies, medical organizations, the Red Cross, and politicians worldwide to condemn these heinous acts. It is imperative that Russia is held accountable for these crimes against Ukrainian children and civilians. The international community must unite to stop this bloody war and Russian aggression,” wrote UWC President Paul Grod.

The Ukrainian community in Portugal has condemned Russian attacks on Ukraine and called for stronger sanctions against Moscow. “Faced with this painful moment for us, we once again urge recognition that this is not just a war, but genocide against Ukrainians. Furthermore, we call for new harsh sanctions against the state-terrorist Russia and against all who support Russian aggression,” stated Pavlo Sadokha, Vice-President of the Ukrainian World Congress and President of the Union of Ukrainians in Portugal.

“Russian terrorist attacks on Ukraine, targeting Ukrainian children, are Russia’s response to yesterday’s failure of pro-Russian forces to enter the French parliament,” said Volodymyr Kogutyak, UWC Vice President for Western Europe and Vice President of the Association of Ukrainians in France, addressing the local community. On Wednesday, July 10, the community in Paris will hold a march calling for the closure of the skies over Ukraine.

“The russians systematically target civilian objects and have launched an attack on the most vulnerable in our society – sick children!” wrote Kateryna Argyrou, Co-Chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO). Argyrou also called for donations to support “Okhmatdyt.”

Vitório Sorotiuk, President of the Ukrainian-Brazilian Central Representation (UBCR), condemned the attack and sent a letter of appeal to Brazil’s government.

“President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, on behalf of 600,000 Brazilians of Ukrainian descent, I would like to request Brazil to condemn the Russian missile attack on the Okhmatdyt Hospital in Kyiv, which occurred on July 8… Brazil has already condemned this aggression at the UN, which violates Article 2 of the Charter, but it is necessary to effectively stop the aggression,” Sorotiuk wrote.

The World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations (WFUWO) is urging world leaders, the United Nations, and humanitarian groups to denounce the brutal killings of Ukrainian children and to take all necessary measures to end this violence and bring Russian war criminals to justice. Additionally, WFUWO is calling on global women’s organizations and international entities to recognize and empathize with the pain of Ukrainian mothers, and to vocally support the protection of Ukraine’s children from Russian aggression.

Immediately following the attack, a profound display of unity emerged among Ukrainians. In less than three hours after the incident, they had raised UAH 100 million for “Okhmatdyt,” marking a record-breaking response since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Hundreds of rescuers, police officers, and ordinary citizens worked tirelessly around the clock, clearing rubble and providing water and food, all in a resolute effort to reaffirm their stance: Russia will not break their spirit.

The global community has also condemned the Russian attack. Leaders of Poland, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Moldova and representatives from Latvia, Lithuania, the United States, Germany, and Austria emphasized the need to increase support for Ukraine.

“It is critical that the world continues to stand with Ukraine at this important moment and that we not ignore Russian aggression. This week, I will be welcoming President Zelenskyy and NATO leaders to Washington D.C., and I will be meeting with President Zelenskyy to make clear our support for Ukraine is unshakeable,” Joe Biden said.

“The Russian attack on a children’s hospital in Kyiv demonstrates the ruthless cruelty of the Putin regime. This clearly shows why we continue to support Ukraine: for the safety of Ukrainians and for the security of Europe and thus, our own country. Russia must not win this war,” affirmed Dick Schoof, the new head of the government of the Netherlands.

The United States and Western countries should lift any restrictions on strikes with Western weaponry on Russian territory and ensure an uninterrupted supply of weapons and ammunition, stated Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada.

Emergency rescue operations at “Okhmatdyt” concluded on July 9th, resulting in two fatalities and fifty injuries. The broader attacks on July 8th by occupiers led to approximately 30 deaths and over 100 injured throughout the Ukrainian capital. In response, Kyiv is observing a day of mourning today to honor the victims.