Human Rights Watch (HRW) announced Friday they uncovered new evidence that Ukraine used banned landmines and other illegal artillery against Russian troops.
In a news release published on their website, HRW reported that they found artillery rockets that they allege are Ukrainian. The findings originate with images of Uragan rockets found in an agricultural field in May by a local in eastern Ukraine. HRW alleged that these rockets were deployed by Ukraine because of Ukrainian writing they found on the sides of the rockets. They say that they have used the markings to trace the rockets to a Kyiv-based non-governmental organization that supports the Ukrainian war effort.
Uragan rockets fall under a weapons subtype called “mine-laying” rockets. As implied by the name, “mine-laying” rockets are meant to disperse mines throughout a large area. Because of their indiscriminate nature, and the risk they pose to civilians long after conflict has ended, the use of mine-laying rockets is prohibited by the Mine Ban Treaty—also known as the Ottawa Treaty— which Ukraine ratified in 2005. Indiscriminate weaponry is also banned under several provisions of Article 8 of the Rome Statute.
HRW says that while Ukraine promised to investigate evidence provided in an earlier report published in January, they have not taken any meaningful steps to do so. The organization urged Ukraine to fulfill its commitment to the Mine Ban Treaty and hold those responsible for deploying the Uragan rockets to account.
JURIST was unable to find any response from the Ukrainian government to HRW’s accusations on Friday.