Human Rights Watch called on Ukraine on Tuesday to investigate allegations that its army used thousands of anti-personnel mines in and around the eastern city of Izyum as Russian forces occupied the area, Reuters reported.

Human Rights Watch said it also published three reports last year accusing Russian forces of using landmines in several regions of Ukraine after they invaded the country nearly a year ago.

“Ukrainian forces appear to have deployed anti-personnel mines widely in the Izyuma area, causing civilian casualties and creating ongoing risk,” said Steve Goose, arms director at Human Rights Watch.

“Russian troops have repeatedly used anti-personnel mines and committed atrocities throughout the country, but this does not justify the use of these prohibited weapons by Ukrainians,” he said.

Anti-personnel mines, banned since 1997

Ukraine is a party to the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction. Russia is not. Moscow denies attacking civilians or committing war crimes.

Human Rights Watch said the use of landmines also violates international humanitarian law because the devices cannot distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Human Rights Watch also noted that Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Oleksandr Polishchuk wrote in a letter dated November 24 that Ukraine is fully committed to complying with all international obligations in the field of mine use, including “not using anti-personnel mines in war.”

Polishchuk told Human Rights Watch that Ukrainian forces strictly adhere to international humanitarian law and the 1997 Convention on Anti-Personnel Landmines.

Investigation in Izyum

The New York-based human rights group said it conducted research in Izyum, Ukraine, from September 19 to October 9, interviewing more than 100 people, including mine witnesses, mine victims, rescuers, doctors and those involved demining the territory.

“Human Rights Watch documented the use of PFM mines in nine different areas of the city of Izyum and its surroundings and confirmed 11 civilian casualties caused by these mines,” the organization said on Tuesday.

“All nine districts were close to where Russian military forces were stationed at the time, indicating that they were targeted.”

A PFM is a cluster explosive anti-personnel mine, commonly referred to as a “butterfly mine”.

Human Rights Watch said that Polishchuk did not respond to any of its specific questions about the use of PFM mines in and around Izyum, noting that “information about the types of weapons used by Ukraine … should not be commented on until the end of the war.” .”

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