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Cluster bombs used in eastern Ukraine, says human rights group | Cluster bombs used in eastern Ukraine, says human rights group |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Evidence collected by the New York-based Human Rights Watch suggests both government forces and pro-Russian separatists have used cluster munitions in eastern Ukraine. | |
A spokesman for the Kiev government’s military operation against the uprising in the east denied the accusations. The rebels were not available to comment. | |
Cluster bombs explode in the air, scattering dozens of smaller bombs over an area the size of a sports field. Most countries have banned them under a convention that became international law in 2010, but Ukraine has not signed it. | Cluster bombs explode in the air, scattering dozens of smaller bombs over an area the size of a sports field. Most countries have banned them under a convention that became international law in 2010, but Ukraine has not signed it. |
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement it had carried out a week-long investigation in eastern Ukraine, where more than 3,700 people have been killed in fighting since April, and documented widespread use of cluster munitions. | |
It said it could not conclusively determine responsibility for many of the attacks but “the evidence points to Ukrainian government forces’ responsibility for several cluster munition attacks” this month on Donetsk, the rebels’ main stronghold. | It said it could not conclusively determine responsibility for many of the attacks but “the evidence points to Ukrainian government forces’ responsibility for several cluster munition attacks” this month on Donetsk, the rebels’ main stronghold. |
“It is shocking to see a weapon that most countries have banned used so extensively in eastern Ukraine,” said Mark Hiznay, senior arms researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Ukrainian authorities should make an immediate commitment not to use cluster munitions and join the treaty to ban them.” | “It is shocking to see a weapon that most countries have banned used so extensively in eastern Ukraine,” said Mark Hiznay, senior arms researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Ukrainian authorities should make an immediate commitment not to use cluster munitions and join the treaty to ban them.” |
In 12 incidents documented, cluster munitions killed at least six people and wounded dozens, but the toll could be higher, HRW said. | |
It said it had identified the cluster munitions by their distinctive crater and fragmentation patterns, by remnants found at the impact sites and by remnants of the rockets found in the vicinity. | It said it had identified the cluster munitions by their distinctive crater and fragmentation patterns, by remnants found at the impact sites and by remnants of the rockets found in the vicinity. |
Ukraine’s military spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, said: “We do not use cluster munitions. They can only be used by aviation and our aviation has not flown since the announcement of a ceasefire on 5 September.” | |
Another military spokesman, Vladyslav Seleznyov, described the accusations as “utter nonsense”. | Another military spokesman, Vladyslav Seleznyov, described the accusations as “utter nonsense”. |
Human Rights Watch said: “While not conclusive, circumstances indicate that anti-government forces might also have been responsible for the use of cluster munitions.” | |
Russia has denied sending troops or weapons to help the rebels but Human Rights Watch urged Moscow to commit itself to not using cluster bombs and agree to the cluster munitions treaty. |
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