Russia Accuses Ukraine of Killing 14 in Hospital Strike Using US-Provided HIMARS

On Saturday, Russia accused Ukrainian forces of killing 14 people and injuring 25 in a strike on a hospital in the eastern Luhansk oblast using US-provided HIMARS rocket systems.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed the strike took place in the town of Novoaidar and called it a “deliberate” attack on civilians. “A deliberate missile strike against a known functioning civilian medical facility is without doubt a serious war crime by the Kiev regime,” the Defense Ministry said.

According to Reuters, Ukraine has not responded to the allegations, and the Russian account hasn’t been verified. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Sunday that the lack of a response from Ukraine’s Western backers shows their direct involvement in the war.

“The lack of reaction from the United States and other NATO countries to this yet another monstrous trampling of international humanitarian law by Kyiv once again confirms their direct involvement in the conflict,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s first deputy permanent representative to the UN, said the US was “directly complicit” in the alleged strike. “As we know from Ukrainian officials, the targets of HIMARS are agreed by Washington,” Polyansky said.

In August 2022, a Ukrainian intelligence official said that Kyiv had to consult with US officials before launching HIMARS strikes and that the US has veto power over the attacks. “So it makes the US directly complicit. US taxpayers should be aware of how their money is used,” Polyansky added.