Russian forces are using banned Anti-Personnel Mines, to cover its Tactical Retreat from Ukraine's Kyiv areas, according to a Report from Human Rights Watch.
"It is frightening to imagine what scale the refugee crisis could reach in the event of escalating hostilities in Ukraine. It will be a continent-wide humanitarian disaster," Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International's Secretary-General, said in a Statement. On Thursday, Callamard said that the Russian Invasion has made the Group's "worst fears" come true in a new Statement.
"If you're laying mines all over the place it does suggest that you don't think you're going to be back there any time soon," Frederick Kagan, a Military Scholar from the Institute for the Study of War, said.
According to Kagan, Ukrainian Troops had already Defeated the Russian Offensive on Kyiv, and begun their own Counter-Offensive to push Russian Troops back. Kagan said Russia's announcement that it would pull Troops out of Ukraine's Capital was "cover" to gain Political Capital after having to concede to Defeat in Kyiv.
Ukrainian Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams located Anti-Personnel Mines in the Eastern Region of Kharkiv, according to the Report from Human Rights Watch.
The deadly POM-3 Mines can injure People up to 50 feet away, according to Human Rights Watch. The Mines, which the group said "indiscriminately kill and maim" — are Not used by the Ukrainian Military and have reportedly been Rigged to Self-Destruct if Not Activated over a period of time.
Russia, and the U.S., did Not agree to the 1997 International Mine Ban Treaty. Ukraine signed the Treaty in 1999, and became a State Party in 2005. They have used Defensive Mines for Eoadblocks in Kyiv.
"They're laying mines to delay the Ukrainian offensive so they can pull their troops out," Kagan said. "From what I've seen, they're doing this so hastily I think the demining process will be much less complicated than in areas where deep minefields have been laid."
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