Washington, DC., 22 April 2025 ——
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the ongoing use of landmines and cluster munitions continues to inflict severe harm on civilians, violate international humanitarian law, and obstruct efforts toward peace and stability.
On Palm Sunday, a Russian missile strike targeted the Ukrainian city of Sumy, killing 34 and injuring 117, including 15 children. The April 13, 2025, attack occurred at 10:20 am, where residents had gathered for church services and a military award ceremony. The missiles, believed to have been two Islander-M ballistic missiles armed with cluster munitions, struck civilians in the city center, including those on the street, in vehicles, and in buildings. Among the casualties were passengers abroad a trolleybus and attendees at a conference center.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as Ukrainian officials, condemned the attack as terrorism and called for a strong international response. International leaders from Germany, Britain, and Italy also condemned the strike, with some calling it a war crime. The UN and EU expressed deep concern with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas calling it a horrific example of Russia intensifying attacks amid Ukraine’s acceptance of a ceasefire. In response, the strike has intensified calls for stronger international action to protect civilians and hold perpetrators accountable.
Landmines: A Perpetual Threat
The widespread use of landmines in Ukraine has transformed large areas into hazardous zones. As of April 2023, approximately 175,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory were contaminated by landmines, with eastern Ukraine being one of the most heavily mined regions.
Russia has deployed various types of landmines in Ukraine, including the POM-3 “Medallion”, a scatterable anti-personnel mine. It is a cylindrical mine, equipped with seismic sensors for detecting footsteps. Upon detection, the mine ejects a fragmentation charge. The POM-3 can be deployed from the air or ground. It has a self-destruct fuse that will detonate the mine 8 to 24 hours after deployment, intended to minimize long-term risks, though it remains a hazard for civilians. The POM-3 and other anti-personnel mines are banned weapons under the 1997 Ottawa Treaty, to which Ukraine is a signatory, but Russia is not.
Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have deployed various types of landmines, including anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines. For example, Russian forces have used mines like the MON-50, MON-90, and OZM-72, while Ukrainian forces have reportedly used PFM-1 antipersonnel mines. The presence of landmines poses a significant threat to civilians, with an estimated 2 million people in eastern Ukraine exposed to the risk of landmines and explosive remnants of war.
The socioeconomic impact is also severe, as large areas of land are contaminated, affecting agriculture and livelihoods. Efforts to clear these mines are ongoing, but are hindered by the vast scale of contamination and the need for specialized training and equipment.
Cluster Munitions: Indiscriminate and Deadly
Cluster munitions are large weapons designed to release smaller submunitions over a wide area, posing a severe risk to civilians during and after deployment. Many submunitions fail to detonate on impact, remaining active and hazardous until disturbed. There have been at least six types of cluster munitions used by Russian forces in Ukraine. These munitions have been deployed in various regions, including Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Vuhledar, causing widespread destruction and civilian harm.
In 2022, over 890 Ukrainians were killed or injured by Russian cluster bombs. These weapons have been used in populated areas, including attacks on schools and residential neighborhoods. Notably, in July 2023, a Russian Smerch cluster munition attack on Lyman killed nine civilians and injured thirteen. The Lyman attack is a possible war crime due to the indiscriminate nature of the attack in a civilian area.
Ukraine has also employed cluster munitions, including rocket-delivered PFM anti-personnel mines in areas like Izium during the summer of 2022.
The use of cluster munitions and landmines in Ukraine has led to extensive civilian casualties and long-term environmental and economic challenges. The international community continues to monitor the situation, calling for adherence to international humanitarian standards and increased efforts to clear contaminated areas to protect civilian lives and restore normalcy. This use has been criticized as a violation of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty.
The 1997 Mine Ban Treaty
The 1997 Mine Ban Treaty is an international agreement that aims to eliminate the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of antipersonnel landmines. Adopted in Ottawa, Canada, the agreement is also referred to as the Ottawa Treaty. The treaty represents a major humanitarian effort to reduce the harm caused by landmines, particularly to civilians in post-conflict areas. It obligates signatory countries to destroy existing stockpiles, clear mined areas, and assist victims of landmine explosions.
As of today, over 160 countries have joined the treaty, though some major military powers, including the US, Russia, and China, have not signed. The treaty has significantly contributed to a reduction in the global use of landmines and increased international awareness of their long-lasting impact.
International Response and Accountability
The use of both landmines and cluster munitions by Russian forces has drawn widespread condemnation from international organizations. While Ukraine has also used cluster munitions, the scale and impact of Russia’s use have been significantly greater. Both countries are urged to cease the use of these indiscriminate weapons to prevent further civilian casualties and suffering. NGOs have called for investigations into these actions as potential war crimes. The UN and other international bodies have urged Russia to comply with international humanitarian law.
Photo Credit: Tiahynika House of Culture after Russian bombing, 2024-01-17 by National Police of Ukraine. Licensed under CC BY 4.0
Lara Kajs is the founder and executive director of The Genocide Report, an NGO nonprofit organization in Washington, DC. She is the author of Assad’s Syria, and Stories from Yemen: A Diary from the Field, available in e-books, paperback, and hardcover at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, and independent booksellers worldwide. Distributed by Ingram Publishing. Ms. Kajs frequently speaks about atrocity crimes, forced displacement, state terrorism, and International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Follow and connect with Lara Kajs on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.