Human Rights Watch has accused Ukraine of using banned anti-personnel mines against Russian militants in the Izyum region. There were numerous injuries as a result, surveys revealed. An independent investigation could provide evidence.
The non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) accuses Ukraine of using banned landmines in the fight against the Russian war of aggression. According to HRW, Kyiv must investigate the “suspected use of thousands of anti-personnel mines by its own army” in and around the city of Izyum, which was recaptured in September after the Russian occupation. The Ukrainian government blamed the Russian invasion for the “problem” with mines, and the UN called for an investigation.
HRW said at least 50 civilians, including five children, were injured in the Izyum area as a result of the use of so-called butterfly mines. For its part, Russia has “repeatedly used anti-personnel mines” and “committed atrocities” throughout Ukraine, HRW weapons expert Steven Goose said. However, this does not justify the use of “banned weapons” by Ukraine.
During an investigation in the Izyum region between September 19 and October 9, 2022, HRW says it interviewed more than 100 eyewitnesses and identified 11 mine victims. However, interviews by HRW with health workers revealed that around 50 civilians were injured by mines during or after the Russian occupation and half of them had limbs amputated as a result.
In Izyum, HRW documented the dropping of numerous Soviet-made PFM-1S butterfly mines. The projectiles were used after rocket fire and were found in places where Russian positions had previously been. As a result, these positions were probably their goal, HRW said.
Butterfly mines are small projectiles colored green or brown, each loaded with 37 grams of explosive. They are commonly equipped with a self-destruct system that triggers 40 hours after use. However, according to HRW, this mechanism often does not work.
After the HRW report was published in the online service Telegram, the human rights commissioner of the Ukrainian parliament, Dmytro Lubinets, declared that his country was complying with its “international obligations”. Ukraine has “always been willing to accept investigations”. Lubinets added that the “problem” of anti-personnel mines exists in Ukraine because since the start of hostilities by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014, the country “has been facing an enemy that has a variety of weapons and its entire arsenal against our people uses”.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said through a spokesman that he encouraged an investigation into the possible use of “weapons that claim so many lives”. Ukraine is a signatory to the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning the use of anti-personnel mines, and Kyiv ratified it in 2005. Russia has not signed the agreement, nor are the USA and China among the 164 signatory states.
