Russia confirms Amnesty's report on Ukraine using 'human shields'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Aug 2022 16:33
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The report includes violations committed by Ukrainian forces against civilians by setting up military assets in residential areas.

Russia comments on Amnesty report about Ukraine's use of human shields

Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented today on a report that was published by Amnesty International. The report documents Ukrainian military tactics and their consequences on civilian lives, as well as the launch of strikes from populated areas and the establishment of military bases in schools and hospitals.

Zakharova confirmed that these allegations are true and they corroborate what Moscow has been saying throughout the conflict with Kiev.

"We’ve been talking about this constantly, calling the actions of the Ukrainian armed forces the tactics of using civilians as a human shield’" Zakharova wrote on Telegram on Thursday.

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, said about the report, “We have documented a pattern of Ukrainian forces putting civilians at risk and violating the laws of war when they operate in populated areas.”

“Being in a defensive position does not exempt the Ukrainian military from respecting international humanitarian law.”

The report also highlights the use of cluster munitions, an internationally banned weapon under the CCM treaty, which Ukrainian forces have used on Ukrainian villages, as revealed by a New York Times report.

Since the start of Russia's military operation, accusations of the use of "human shields" by Ukrainian forces were long signaled by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

These, however, remained largely ignored by Western politicians.

Russian diplomat Vladimir Tarabrin said on Monday that the situation in Ukraine has had a negative impact on international collaboration in counterterrorism measures.

While Western authorities are attempting to politicize counterterrorism problems and replace them with topics of minor relevance, such as gender and human rights, Russia is pursuing efforts in countering terrorist organizations.

Last Tuesday, Russia's Supreme Court designated Ukraine's Azov Battalion as a terrorist organization.