HRW accuses Ukraine of placing antipersonnel mines in Izium

MADRID, 31 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The NGO Human Right Watch (HRW) has accused Ukraine of the apparent military use of thousands of rocket-launched anti-personnel landmines in the eastern town of Izium as Russian forces left the area, urging Ukrainian authorities to start an investigation.

The organization has documented numerous cases in which rockets with PFM anti-personnel mines, also called butterfly mines or petal mines, have been fired at Russian-occupied areas near Russian military installations, according to a statement.

"Ukrainian forces appear to have extensively spread land mines around the Izium area, causing civilian casualties and posing a continuing risk," said Steve Goose, director of HRW's Weapons Division.

After recalling that it has previously published up to three reports documenting the use of antipersonnel landmines by Russian forces in Ukraine, the NGO has reiterated to the Ukrainian authorities that the use of these devices violates International Humanitarian Law because they cannot discriminate between civilians and combatants.

"Russian forces have repeatedly used anti-personnel mines and committed atrocities throughout the country, but this does not justify Ukraine's use of these prohibited weapons," Goose stressed, recalling that Ukraine is a party to the Mine Ban Treaty of 1997, which prohibits any use of antipersonnel mines.

In this sense, HRW has reported that the mines placed by Ukraine work only when they are dispersed by planes, rockets and artillery, or when they are fired from vehicles or specialized launchers.

The PFM mines would have been located in nine different areas in and around the city of Izium, for which at least 11 civilian victims of these mines have been verified.

In addition, health workers consulted by HRW have said they have treated almost 50 civilians, including at least five children, who were apparently injured by landmines in the area during or after the Russian military occupation.

Approximately half of the injuries involved traumatic amputations of the foot or lower leg, injuries consistent with PFM explosive mines.

All in all, the organization has stressed that the Russian Army seized Izium and the surrounding areas on April 1, 2022 and exercised full control there until early September, when Ukrainian forces launched a counteroffensive. During their occupation, Russian forces arbitrarily detained, interrogated and tortured residents, and in some cases forcibly disappeared and killed civilians.

More than 100 residents of Izium and the surrounding area have told HRW that Russian forces have published and distributed leaflets warning of the danger of landmines. They also removed land mines from public areas and private civilian property and took some mine victims to Russia for medical care.