As Russian military forces continue to face strong resistance in their attack on Ukraine, it now appears that cluster bombs are also being used by Russia in direct violation of international law.
The Independent reports:
Amnesty International has condemned Russia’s reported use of cluster munitions in Ukraine, saying an attack on a pre-school “may constitute a war crime”.
The human rights charity said “a 220mm Uragan rocket dropped cluster munitions on the Sonechko nursery and kindergarten in the town of Okhtyrka in Sumy Oblast” on Friday.
It added: “The strike may constitute a war crime.”
A former U.S. Army general said Monday morning on CNN that video does indeed indicate Russia is using cluster munitions against civilian targets.
Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling was asked by host Jim Sciutto about video the network had received from the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv:
“Can you give us a sense, as we watch it, as to what weapon you think is being used here.”
Hertling responded:
“I know what weapon is being used, Jim. It’s a Smerch, part of a Smerch rocket attack, multiple-launch rocket attack.
“If you can continue to show the video, you see all the pops in the middle of explosions. Those are cluster munitions. It would be bad enough if these were artillery rounds falling on an apartment complex, those are cluster munitions.”
Former U.S. ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, echoed Hertling’s comments, noting that the use of cluster bombs would constitute a crime against humanity:
Other videos also show what appears to be the use of cluster weapons:
Putin and his thug government need to be placed on trial by the International Criminal Court for their crimes.