Mariupol hospital airstrike

Mariupol hospital airstrike refers to a war crime committed by the Russian Air Force during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. On March 9, 2022, Maternity Hospital No. 3 in Mariupol, Ukraine, which served as both a children's hospital and a maternity ward, was bombed by Russian forces. The airstrike resulted in the deaths of at least four people, including one stillbirth, and injured at least sixteen others.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Union head of Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, and British Armed Forces Minister James Heappey condemned the bombing as a war crime. However, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence claimed that the hospital was targeted due to the alleged presence of Ukrainian armed forces at Maternity Hospital No. 1 in Mariupol. This claim was dismissed by several media organizations as false.

An OSCE report confirmed that the airstrike was indeed a Russian war crime. The bombing occurred during the siege of Mariupol, as Russian and pro-Russian forces surrounded the city. On March 9, 2022, a humanitarian corridor was established to allow civilians to evacuate from Mariupol and other towns. However, the hospital was targeted multiple times by Russian forces during the ceasefire.

The damage inflicted on the hospital was described as "colossal" by Ukrainian authorities. Video footage showed significant destruction, with the front of the building torn apart and burning cars outside. Hospital wards were severely damaged, leaving the facility in ruins.

This airstrike serves as a tragic example of the devastating impact of the Russian invasion on civilian infrastructure and the violation of international humanitarian law.