This article discusses a deadly missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, in which 35 people were killed and nearly 120 injured. The attack was carried out by Russia, which claimed it had targeted a military gathering, but experts are skeptical of this claim.
The article quotes an expert, Wayne Jordash, who says that even if there was a military gathering at the site, the use of cluster munitions would have been unjustified and likely intended to maximize civilian casualties. He notes that such weapons are designed to disperse smaller bomblets over a wide area, causing maximum damage.
Jordash also discusses the legal obligations of parties to a conflict to protect civilians and exercise precaution in military operations. He suggests that if Ukrainian soldiers were gathering for an award ceremony in a civilian area, it was reckless and gave Russia an excuse to attack.
The article highlights the difficulties of investigating war crimes, particularly when one side is accused. Jordash notes that investigators would need to examine whether there was a legitimate military target, what weapons were used, and how precise or otherwise the firing was.
Ultimately, the article concludes that even if there was a military gathering at the site, the use of cluster munitions and the civilian casualties make it difficult to justify Russia’s actions as anything other than a war crime.