Human Rights Watch: Use of cluster munitions in Kyiv may be a war crime
Human Rights Watch has published a report stating that Russia used cluster munitions during attacks on Kyiv. Experts note that such actions may be classified as war crimes due to the indiscriminate nature of this weapon and the significant threat it poses to the civilian population.
Cluster munitions are particularly dangerous because they scatter a large number of small explosive devices over a wide area. Many of these submunitions do not explode immediately, remaining dangerous to residents for a long time after the shelling has ended.
International law prohibits the use of weapons that do not allow for a clear distinction between military targets and civilian objects. Since cluster munitions affect a wide area, their use in densely populated regions, such as the capital of Ukraine, leads to significant casualties among civilians.
Human Rights Watch calls on the international community to pay attention to these facts and conduct a thorough investigation. Gathering evidence of the use of prohibited types of weaponry is an important step toward holding those responsible accountable in the future.
Currently, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies continue to document the consequences of the attacks and collect testimony for international courts. The safety of civilians remains the top priority in the investigations of war crimes on the territory of Ukraine.