Russians have begun planting bombs that look like children’s toys in the southeastern city of Mariupol, in Ukraine, Hromadske International reported. 

The outlet recently tweeted, “The occupiers are scattering explosive devices that look like children’s toys around the city”, and citing the Mariupol City Council, added, “Residents are urged not to touch such objects”. 

Hromadske International is a non-governmental digital broadcaster, operating out of Ukraine since June 2013. Despite the tweet, the English website of the news outlet didn’t publish any articles with additional information on the bombs. 

However, their claims come at a time when the civilian death toll in Ukraine is rising, and Moscow faces scrutiny from the world over allegations of committing war crimes. Further, over the last week, Russian attacks on Mariupol have increased, though the city remains in Ukraine’s control for now. The port city on the Azov Sea holds great strategic significance to Russia. 

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If Russia is indeed using such explosive devices, it would tie in with reports of them specifically targeting civilians, though Moscow has denied such claims. 

The International Criminal Court at the Hague announced last week that it was launching an investigation into whether Russia committed war crimes in Ukraine. Notably, President Volodymyr Zelensky has already accused his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin of the same, and is supported by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. 

However, the US has maintained a much more cautious approach as it still debates whether to label Russian actions in Ukraine a war crime. President Joe Biden admitted that Russians were attacking civilians but shied away from labelling it as a war crime. 

Since Putin mounted the invasion against Ukraine, Russian forces have reportedly attacked an orphanage and kindergarten in northeast Ukraine, as per the Human Rights Watch. They’ve also been accused of using cluster bombs among other weapons. 

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Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard spoke to The Guardian about it, saying, “It is stomach-turning to see an indiscriminate attack on a nursery and kindergarten where civilians are seeking safe haven. Plain and simple, this should be investigated as a war crime. There is no possible justification for dropping cluster munitions in populated areas, let alone near a school. This…shows flagrant disregard for civilian life”.