More than a thousand civilians injured by Russian mines: SBU prepares evidence for The Hague
Kyiv • UNN
More than a thousand civilians have been injured by enemy explosive devices, including 297 deaths. Russia deliberately uses anti-personnel mines against the civilian population of Ukraine, violating international laws and customs of war. Therefore, the SBU is preparing an evidence base for The Hague on this massive use of mines by the occupiers.
The SBU is preparing an evidence base for the Hague on the massive use of anti-personnel mines by racists against the civilian population of Ukraine, UNN reports with reference to SBU.
The Security Service of Ukraine is preparing a large-scale evidence base that demonstrates the deliberate use of anti-personnel mines by Russia against the civilian population of Ukraine. This is a deliberate violation of international law, laws and customs of war
According to the Service, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, more than a thousand civilians have been injured by enemy explosive devices, 297 of whom have been killed. Many of them are children.
According to the investigation, the racists deliberately set up mine traps near or on the territory of settlements in the combat zone.
The occupiers use various consumer items, including children's toys and boxes of candy, to camouflage the ammunition.
In addition, very often, Russian subversive groups set up minefields to cover their retreat from the frontline areas and the border of Ukraine.
Most cases of Russian Federation using mine traps against civilians were recorded in Donetsk and Kharkiv regions.
These are high-explosive and fragmentation anti-personnel mines:
- PFM-1 is a pressure-action munition (known as a "petal"). Due to its specific shape, it is hardly noticeable on the ground. Most of the time, when a person is blown up by such a mine, he or she suffers significant leg injuries that can lead to death;
- The PMN-2 is also a pressure munition. Usually, when it explodes, a person's limb is torn off when they step on a mine;
- The OZM-72 is a high-explosive, circular-impact munition (known as a "frog mine"). When triggered, it "jumps" to a height of almost 1 m and causes fragments within a radius of 25 m;
- MON-50 is a directed-action anti-personnel mine prohibited by the Ottawa Convention.
Within the framework of multi-episodic criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war), investigative actions are ongoing to bring war criminals to justice.
After the SBU receives sufficient evidence, the issue of transferring the materials to the International Criminal Court in The Hague will be decided
The SBU urged Ukrainian citizens to follow safety rules. If you find an explosive or suspicious object, do not touch it, stay calm, memorize the place of discovery and report it to law enforcement agencies or special services. Call 112 or 101.
