Civilians in Sumy City, Ukraine, are facing deadly threats from heightened military action by Russia, reported Amnesty International on Tuesday. The human rights organization cited “increased unlawful attacks” involving the use of “Grad rockets,” notorious for their inaccuracy. Such assaults have reportedly led to the deaths and injuries of several civilians as Russia continues its campaign against the region.
Amnesty International called for the use of Grad rockets to be investigated as potential war crimes, given their indiscriminate nature. A recent strike on Sumy City on June 3 resulted in at least seven civilian deaths and numerous injuries. The situation exemplifies a broader escalation in the area, with local authorities reporting 80 to 120 shellings occurring daily across Sumy province.
This provincial capital in northeastern Ukraine, located approximately 30 kilometers from the Russian border, has been under increasing pressure as Russian troops make territorial advances. In a related incident, an airstrike on April 13 left 34 civilians dead and injured 117 others. President Vladimir Putin of Russia has not dismissed the possibility of taking Sumy, labeling it as a persistent threat to Russian security.
The BM-21 Grad rocket system launches the 122mm rockets used in these attacks, which are unguided and intended to saturate a large area, making them unsuitable for populated regions. Advocacy groups, including Amnesty International, highlight that the use of such inherently inaccurate weapons in civilian areas contravenes international laws against indiscriminate attacks. These principles are enshrined in international frameworks such as Article 51(4) of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Convention and Article 8(b)(xx) of the Rome Statute.
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine persists, multiple indiscriminate attacks have been documented, prompting the International Criminal Court to initiate an investigation into alleged war crimes in March 2022. Amnesty International’s report urges accountability and underscores the pressing humanitarian concerns resulting from the misuse of weaponry in dense urban landscapes.