Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Russia has been accused of carrying out “genocidal activities” by using anti-personnel mines in Ukraine, according to a statement made by a senior Ukrainian defense official during an international conference in Cambodia today.
Oleksandr Rjabcev, an official with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, stated that Russia has deployed these mines in urban areas, agricultural lands, and near public transportation hubs. He emphasized that these actions are being carried out in regions where around six million Ukrainians reside.
Rjabcev’s remarks highlight the devastating impact of these mines on civilians and the broader Ukrainian population. The use of such mines, he argued, is part of a broader Russian strategy to target civilian infrastructure and terrorize local communities.
Ukraine’s Response to Mine Destruction Obligations
Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense announced it would be unable to fulfill its obligation to destroy the remaining stockpiles of anti-personnel mines inherited from the Soviet era. Jevgeniy Kivšik, another Ukrainian defense official participating in the conference in Cambodia, explained that the ongoing Russian aggression has disrupted plans to comply with international mine clearance conventions.
“Unfortunately, it is currently impossible to carry out this obligation,” said Kivšik, acknowledging that the destruction of Ukraine’s mine stockpiles had been affected by the ongoing war.
Context of the Allegations
The accusations come amid growing concerns about Russia’s military tactics in Ukraine, particularly in regard to its treatment of civilians. International bodies, including the United Nations and human rights organizations, have expressed alarm over the use of prohibited munitions and the impact of landmines on civilian populations.
Ukraine’s decision to temporarily halt the destruction of these mines has sparked debates in the international community about the challenges faced by nations involved in ongoing conflicts and their ability to meet international disarmament agreements during wartime.
