Human Rights Watch claims that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are using banned anti-personnel mines. Because of this, civilians are suffering.

The international human rights organization Human Rights Watch has released a report alleging that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are allegedly using prohibited Soviet-made PMF-1 anti-personnel mines.

The organization claims to have documented several instances of the use of such mines during the Russian occupation of Izyum. According to Human Rights Watch, at least 50 civilians were injured as a result of such shelling. In about half of the cases, doctors had to amputate the lower legs.

According to the organization, Ukraine has acceded to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Their use violates international humanitarian law.

“Russian troops in Ukraine have repeatedly used anti-personnel mines and committed atrocities, but this does not justify the use of prohibited weapons by Ukraine,” explains the head of the weapons department, Steve Gus.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine answered human rights activists that the Armed Forces of Ukraine comply with all international obligations. The agency also said that until the end of the war, no comments would be given on reports about the types of weapons used by Ukraine.

In August 2022, the human rights organization Amnesty International released a report that the Ukrainian army is placing military equipment in residential areas, thereby endangering the lives of civilians. The Ukrainian authorities accused the organization of bias and reported that they used the testimony of people from the filtration camps for the report. It is planned that the report will be studied by international independent experts.

Source: Human Rights Watch

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