Our on-the-ground investigation established that, given the incoming direction,
these cluster munitions could have been fired by either Ukrainian or Russian forces. While circumstances raised the possibility of Russian or pro-Russian rebel responsibility, we ultimately made no definitive attribution of responsibility for this attack. But this case and others warrant more investigation.
Russia has used cluster munitions before. During the Georgia-Russia war over South Ossetia in 2008, Human Rights Watch documented that both Russian and Georgian forces used cluster munitions on several occasions.
The Russian government denied using cluster munitions “in the area of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict,” despite conclusive evidence.
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