EU experts: Russian army using banned cluster munitions against civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine

The Russian army is using prohibited cluster munitions against civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine, according to legal experts from one of the EU projects in Ukraine.

Such bombs detonate sub-munitions in the air and hit large areas. In addition, they can explode after some time.

On 19 April, massive shelling of Zelenodolsk in Dnipropetrovsk region resulted in damage to a multi-storey residential building, a school, agricultural equipment and a children’s playground.

The same non-exclusive cases occurred in Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Zaporizhzhya, Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and other regions.

“Such actions are blatant violations of international humanitarian law, namely the Convention on Cluster Munitions,” the legal experts say. “There must be no impunity for atrocity crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. The EU supports efforts in this regard, helping to document and investigate violations.” 

This month, the EU Delegation to Ukraine has started a series of publications highlighting international crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.

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Press release