IAEA names those responsible for the strike on OHMATDET

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has held Russia responsible for the missile attack on Kiev's Okhmatdet children's hospital on 8 July. This was reported by the Ukrainian Energy Ministry.

In particular, the IAEA Board of Governors condemned the strike by the Russian military and approved a relevant resolution at an emergency closed session, which was held on Friday, 12 July, at Ukraine's request.

The organisation said that it would continue technical cooperation with Ukraine, including assistance to OKHMATDET and other war-affected hospitals, to ensure the continuity of medical services in Ukraine and to strengthen radiation safety and protection measures for the country's population.

The organisation also called on member states to support Ukraine politically and financially, in particular by providing the necessary nuclear safety and security related equipment.

The IAEA recalled that this children's hospital treats children, including those with cancer, and therefore 27 sources of ionising radiation are located on its territory.

The hospital has long been receiving technical assistance from the IAEA within the framework of the Technical Cooperation Programme in important projects in several areas, such as radiation oncology, nuclear medicine and diagnostic radiology.

It should be noted that as a result of a massive missile strike on Kiev on 8 July, 33 people were killed in the city, among them 5 children. Among them, two children who had been treated at OKHMATDET died.