The OSCE mission concludes that Russia attacked the Mariupol hospital and that it was a war crime

A mission of experts from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has released a report on humanitarian violations following the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in which they find, among other things, “clear signs”. Violations by Russian forces during hostilities. They say that if their commitments were met, “the number of dead and wounded would be much lower.” Analyzing what happened at the Mariupol maternity hospital on March 9, they conclude that it was destroyed by a Russian attack and that the perpetrators committed war crimes.

The report, signed by Professors Wolfgang Benedek, Veronica Bilkova and Marco Sassol, notes that some findings are pre-emptive in the context of the conflict due to the short period of investigation, but may provide a basis for other organizations to do more – in-depth accountability research as well as political accountability. The analyzed violations were observed on both the Ukrainian and Russian sides, but the ones committed by Russia are “of a much larger nature and scale.”

The expert mission sought to analyze in more detail the two attacks in the besieged and heavily devastated city of Mariupol and to uncover some of Russia’s main arguments about them.

In particular, they focus on the March 9 attack on the Mariupol maternity hospital. The 390-bed facility was severely damaged and at least three people were killed and 17 injured – at least one pregnant woman was injured and her baby, who was later born, died from those injuries. The report states that images taken before and after the attack show that it was a hospital that was functioning and that it was severely damaged as a result of the attack.

Three authors recall that Russia assessed the attack as disinformation and accused Ukraine of organizing it. He also claimed that the building had been used by the ultranationalist Azov Battalion and that “all patients had been evacuated, among other things, following a warning from Russia”. The warning, they said, was likely made in a March 7 statement by Russia’s representative to the Security Council.

The publication, which “confirms this military use attempt, shows a photo of a tank and armed men in front of the building that was supposed to be a maternity hospital, but this building does not match any of the buildings within a kilometer radius of the hospital.” Compared to satellite images. The shape of the building is quite unique and can be seen from above, they say. However, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN showed the 11th footage of the hospital, which states that he could not have hit the rocket: he showed a photo of the crater, which was formed according to all the testimonies. As a result of a mine explosion placed in the ground. ”

Specialists conclude that the hospital was “destroyed by a Russian attack.” “According to the Russian explanation, the attack should have been targeted. “No effective warning has been issued and no deadline has been set.” Therefore, they consider this attack to be a “clear violation” of international humanitarian law and “those responsible for it have committed war crimes.”

They are also analyzing the March 16 attack on the Drama Theater in the center of Mariupol, which was destroyed by a powerful explosive device, which they said was “indisputable”. They also unequivocally believe that the demolition of the building where the children were staying and where many civilians were sheltered was “intentional”.

“Russia does not claim that it was a legitimate target, but that it was blown up by the Azov Battalion,” the report said. However, the authors state that they have not received any indication that this might be the case. Some people, including children, were able to speak independently after the attack. Authorities estimate that 300 people were killed.

“These were the people who took refuge in that part of the theater that was completely destroyed. Experts point out that they explained that the lack of information about the fate of other people was caused by the siege of the city and the trauma of the survivors, “which made it impossible to interview many of them.” “This incident is most likely a horrific violation of international humanitarian law and those who ordered or carried it out committed war crimes.

Russian “clear patterns.”

In its report, the expert mission warns that, given the circumstances, it has become impossible to make a detailed assessment of allegations of violations of humanitarian law and war crimes related to specific incidents, but found “clear patterns of such violations. On most of the issues investigated by Russian forces.

They also report that they have identified some irregularities and problems with Ukraine’s practice, “but allegations that Ukraine, not Russia, caused some of the deaths, injuries or destruction to Russia have not been substantiated. “.

The investigation was commissioned on March 3 by 45 of the 57 OSCE participating States with the support of Kiev. The investigation – presented at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council – covers the period from February 24 to April 1, so it does not cover the brutality found in Bucha and other places near Kiev, which are attributed to Russian troops.

Forty-five OSCE partners – including the United States and the European Union – commissioned a study by the so-called Calling on the “Moscow Mechanism” to clarify allegations of human rights violations and possible war crimes.

The mission encountered several limitations, although the authors explain that they were able to access a variety of sources, which allowed them to have a good overview of the situation in general. Russia was invited to cooperate with the expert mission, but refused to provide any information or assistance. “Despite this cooperation, the expert mission did everything possible to take into account the Russian positions. Ukraine, as a demanding state, cooperated in limited quantities due to the war, but the authors regret that they were unable to make any contact with the Ukrainian military.

In eastern Ukraine, the pro-Russian leader of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic, whose independence was recognized by the Kremlin in February, said he would ban OSCE activities from April 30, EFE reports.