Human rights activists report deaths caused by the use of Russian cluster munitions - and make demands on Ukraine

Created: 03/18/2022, 05:12

A broken-down car stood in front of a building on March 14 that was badly damaged in a Russian shelling.

© Mykhaylo Palinchak/dpa

In the Ukraine war, war crimes and their consequences are increasingly being debated.

Human rights activists are now reporting on the Russian use of cluster munitions.

According to the human rights organization Human Rights Watch, Russian troops have repeatedly used cluster munitions in violation of international law in the Ukraine war*.

Nine civilians were reportedly killed last Sunday (March 13) in the densely populated city of Mykolaiv, apparently while queuing at an ATM, the organization said on Thursday (March 17).

At the beginning of the month, the organization described a Russian attack on civilians.

Ukraine News: Multiple dead from use of Russian cluster munitions, according to Human Rights Watch

"Several residential areas in Mykolaiv were rocked by cluster munitions attacks within a week," Human Rights Watch quoted crisis and conflict researcher Belkis Wille as saying.

Russia is asked to stop such operations.

Ukraine repeatedly accuses Russia of targeted attacks against civilians.

Moscow denies that. On Wednesday, the highest UN court ruled that Russia must stop the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine News: Human Rights Watch calls Ukraine for prisoners of war

Human rights activists from Human Rights Watch called on the Ukrainian side to uphold the rights of Russian prisoners of war*: “Ukrainian authorities should stop posting videos of captured Russian soldiers on social media and messaging apps that expose them to public curiosity - especially those who show themselves being humiliated or intimidated.”

A few days after the Russian invasion, when the Ukraine conflict * finally escalated, the Ukrainian authorities created a Telegram channel in which they have since published photos and videos of allegedly killed and captured Russians.

In addition, several “press conferences” were held at which captured soldiers, presumably under pressure in front of live cameras, criticized the Russian military and praised the Ukrainian armed forces.

You can read more about the current developments in the Ukraine war in our news ticker.