Human Rights Watch said today that Ukraine should look into the suspected use of thousands of rocket-fired antipersonnel landmines in and around the eastern city of Izium while Russian forces occupied the region, a new Human Rights Watch report states.
PFM antipersonnel mines, also known as “butterfly mines” or “petal mines,” have been launched into Russian-occupied areas close to Russian military installations on many occasions, according to Human Rights Watch. The Mine Ban Treaty of 1997 forbids the use of antipersonnel mines, and Ukraine is a signatory to this treaty.
Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russian forces have utilized antipersonnel mines in numerous locations around the country of Ukraine, including booby traps that are activated by victims. Three reports by Human Rights Watch detailing the use of antipersonnel landmines by Russian forces in Ukraine in 2022 have already been published.
The PFM antipersonnel mines deployed in and around Izium are only operational when they are scattered by aircraft, rockets, and artillery, or when they are launched from specialized vehicles or launchers, in contrast to the majority of antipersonnel mine types that are planted by hand. Because antipersonnel mines cannot distinguish between civilians and combatants, their deployment is illegal under international humanitarian law. Unexploded landmines force eviction, obstruct the distribution of relief, and stop agricultural operations.
By April 1, the Russian military had taken control of Izium and the surrounding districts, and it remained there until early September, when Ukrainian forces launched a counteroffensive. Russian forces arbitrarily imprisoned, interrogated, and tortured locals while occupying the area, and in some cases even killed and forcefully disappeared citizens.
From September 19 to October 9, Human Rights Watch interviewed over 100 persons in the Izium district, including landmine victims, witnesses to landmine use, first responders, medical professionals, and Ukrainian deminers. Everyone who was questioned acknowledged having witnessed minefields, known someone who had been hurt by one, or received a warning about their presence during Russia’s occupation of Izium.
Human Rights Watch verified 11 civilian injuries from PFM mines in nine separate locations in and around the city of Izium.
Read more in the report from HRW here.
