For the first time, so far as is known by this author, an international human rights organization has confirmed that the Ukrainian military is indeed putting civilians at risk as the Russians have been charging for many months. “Ukrainian forces have put civilians in harm’s way by establishing bases and operating weapons systems in populated residential areas, including in schools and hospitals,” Amnesty International said in a report posted today. “Such tactics violate international humanitarian law and endanger civilians, as they turn civilian objects into military targets. The ensuing Russian strikes in populated areas have killed civilians and destroyed civilian infrastructure.”
“We have documented a pattern of Ukrainian forces putting civilians at risk and violating the laws of war when they operate in populated areas,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General. “Being in a defensive position does not exempt the Ukrainian military from respecting international humanitarian law.”
Throughout their investigations, Amnesty researchers “found evidence of Ukrainian forces launching strikes from within populated residential areas as well as basing themselves in civilian buildings in 19 towns and villages in the regions,” the report says. “The organization’s Crisis Evidence Lab has analyzed satellite imagery to further corroborate some of these incidents.
