10/04/2022 15:54

In the Kharkiv region, the enemy is testing weapons, strictly prohibited by international conventions

For the last two days, along with mines, shells, and "hail," Kharkiv has been bombarded with new types of bombs.  The russian aggressor parachutes them.  Experts note that these are 9M55K cluster munitions.  They can be launched by the “Tornado” multiple rocket launcher.

A parachute is needed for the projectile to "scatter" individual sub-munitions.  The principle of these sub-munitions is that each of them has its own individual guidance - a primitive thermal homing head, which must respond to the heat of armored vehicles.  But in practice it can capture civilian cars.

The most common cluster munitions do not have additional guidance systems at all and are simply scattered over the area.

The racists scattered these bombs in residential areas.

The use of such weapons by enemy troops against civilians is a crime against humanity and a violation of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1979 UN Resolution.

Another new threat against Kharkiv residents is PTM-1C mines.  These are anti-tank mines delivered by a projectile, which can contain up to several dozen munitions that explode at certain intervals.

They have sensitive detonators that can work when picked up by people.

Mines of this type have been banned since 1997 by the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, signed by 164 countries, including Ukraine.  Russia did not sign the agreement.

In addition, the use of PTM-1C mines violates the Protocol to Prohibit or Restrict the Use of Mines, Traps and Others to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts.

I appeal to the UN Commission for Investigation Human Rights Violations during Russia's Military Invasion of Ukraine and the expert mission set up by the OSCE participating States under the Moscow Mechanism to take into account these facts of war crimes and human rights violations in Ukraine.

I call on international partners to close the skies over Ukraine and provide weapons to fight the aggressor country of Russia!