2024-07-26 08:03:32
“Him The past and current use of anti-personnel weapons ravaging Ukrainian territories by Russian forces continues to pose a deadly threat to civilians and must be the subject of investigation immediately, finally, freely and impartially,” Amnesty International said in a public statement which was announced today.
According to Landmine Monitor 2023, Ukraine recorded 608 mine victims in 2022, more than any other country in the world except Syria. Data collected by humanitarian organizations working in Ukraine show that many victims come from Antipersonnel mines, which are indiscriminate weapons and, as such, are prohibited under international humanitarian law.
“Mines are scattered across the territory of Ukraine that have been and are currently occupied by Russian forces, and are a daily and deadly threat to the civilian population. Some were deliberately taken to private homes where they were tortured and killed.Patrick Thompson, Amnesty International’s Ukraine researcher said.
“There must be an effective investigation of all these incidents as possible war crimes. In all areas of Ukraine occupied by Russia, we have seen evidence of civilians being killed and injured by explosive mines left by Russian forces.”
Antipersonnel mines have been used regularly in Ukraine since the large Russian attack of 2022, and to a lesser extent since 2014. There was a noticeable increase in civilian casualties after the Russian withdrawal from the Nikolaev, Kherson and Kharklov regions in late 2022, when citizens returned to their homes, farms and fields.
By March 2022, Russian forces had withdrawn Oleksandr* (not his real name) and his mother from their apartment in Snihurivka, Nicolaiev district. A Russian army occupied the entire apartment building until it was forced to withdraw after heavy fighting around Snihurivka in November 2022.
After withdrawing from Russia, Oleksandr returned to the hospital to assess the damage he had suffered. Entering the basement, he stepped on a hidden PFM-1 anti-personnel mine hidden under some wooden planks. The drink explodes and Oleksandr falls on other hidden mines that have obviously been deliberately placed to injure or kill anyone who enters the building. He lost his left leg and arm in the incident.
Despite the horrific incident, his story is not unique. The research group Amnesty International documented other incidents in which Russian forces placed anti-personnel mines in residential areas in Kherson and Kharkiv regions.
“Members of demining teams working to rid Ukraine of this danger do hard and dangerous work every day. While the problem is undoubtedly increasing, the biggest obstacle to Ukraine’s elimination from the land uprisings is Russia’s continued aggression,” said Patrick Thompson.
“The international community must commit to providing economic and technical assistance stand to help Ukraine free itself from the danger that continues to kill lives and livelihoods. “
Ukraine has decided to investigate the use of antipersonnel mines by its own forces.
Antipersonnel mines deployed today will continue to affect civilians long into the future.
“Countries must comply with a ban on the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel mines worldwide. We must put an end to the use of these dirty weapons,” concluded Patrick Thompson.
More information
On 12 June 2024, Amnesty International wrote to the Government of Ukraine seeking comment on the progress of the investigation into the use of anti-personnel mines by Ukrainian forces, and at the time of writing had not received a response.
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