Kyiv had launched its own drones and anti-aircraft missiles into Russian territory before, but never American-made high-tech M42 guided rockets. The US green-lighted the launches on Friday.
Russian major media confirmed Ukrainian forces used multiple salvoes of 122mm M42 rockets, some armed with cluster munitions, in the cross-border strikes.
sighs
Welp, I guess Russia’s looking at post-war cluster munition UXO cleanup now too.
Citing official statements by Belgorod governor Vyacheslov Gladkov and others, Russian news platforms, including Astra, reported that the vice head of Korochanskiy district Igor Nechiporienko was killed by a “munition detonation,” and the regional officials Andrei Vedenin and Igor Shevlyakov were moderately injured. All had responded to the scene following reports of explosions in the vicinity. Unconfirmed reports said Nechiporienko died after a cluster munition lying on the ground blew up as he approached it.
…and I guess that particular mess is already underway.
Unfortunately, Russia decided early on that international law and relations are an acceptable price for their war. That means some bad stuff will come their way as well, and very little sympathy will be heard from the rest of the world.
They’re not outlawed. There’s a treaty that many countries belong to that prohibits parties to the treaty from using them, but neither of Ukraine nor Russia are party to it (nor is the US, for that matter):
It’s not illegal for Russia or Ukraine to use them. But legalities aside, at some point after the war, all of the UXO – and not just the cluster munitions, but stuff like the mines and dud unitary-warhead weapons and abandoned explosives and all that sort of stuff – is going to be a hazard until people have gone through and cleared the areas.
It should also be noted that Ukraine didn’t ask for cluster munitions until Russia constantly bombarded them with cluster munitions, including within Kharkiv city. So my sympathies for Russia facing unexploded bomblets is quite frankly not there.
sighs
Welp, I guess Russia’s looking at post-war cluster munition UXO cleanup now too.
…and I guess that particular mess is already underway.
They could always go the fuck home
I agree, and that’s why they’re outlawed.
Unfortunately, Russia decided early on that international law and relations are an acceptable price for their war. That means some bad stuff will come their way as well, and very little sympathy will be heard from the rest of the world.
They’re not outlawed. There’s a treaty that many countries belong to that prohibits parties to the treaty from using them, but neither of Ukraine nor Russia are party to it (nor is the US, for that matter):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Cluster_Munitions
It’s not illegal for Russia or Ukraine to use them. But legalities aside, at some point after the war, all of the UXO – and not just the cluster munitions, but stuff like the mines and dud unitary-warhead weapons and abandoned explosives and all that sort of stuff – is going to be a hazard until people have gone through and cleared the areas.
It should also be noted that Ukraine didn’t ask for cluster munitions until Russia constantly bombarded them with cluster munitions, including within Kharkiv city. So my sympathies for Russia facing unexploded bomblets is quite frankly not there.
I stand corrected
Which all could be avoided had Russia not violated the sovereignty of Ukraine.
Yup. But here we are.
Hope they get their country cleaned up ok once they finish clearing out all the bullshit they dropped on Ukraine