Russia is testing new weapons out on Ukrainians, violating the laws and customs of war - Maliar

DENYS KARLOVSKYI — MONDAY, 13 JUNE 2022, 21:26

Deputy Defence Minister Anna Maliar has said that Russia is violating the laws and customs of war by testing new weapons out against Ukraine.

Source: Maliar in a live broadcast on the 24-hour national newscast

Direct quote from Maliar: "The Russians are using a wide range of weapons that are banned by international laws.

Not only that: they are using some weapons for tests, for research. They are actually using the war to test out new weapons, and all of this applies here.

Some weapons are being successfully trialled here. Some models have been overhyped in terms of their quality characteristics, and it turns out that they cannot be used normally here at all."

Details: The deputy minister explained that the testing of new weapons in combat during a war is a violation of the laws and customs of war.

Maliar also said that as of the end of May, 65% of the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were being supplied by the Ministry of Defence and the remaining 35% by volunteers and international aid. She said this was mostly a question of ammunition and equipment, such as helmets and bulletproof vests.

Maliar maintains that there is a shortage of bulletproof vests in Ukrainian units, but the Ukrainian military leadership is making significant efforts to address this shortage.

The Ukrainian military leadership delivers ammunition and equipment regularly and does not store them in warehouses for long periods due to the risk of them being destroyed by Russian missile strikes.  

Background: 

•         In March, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced that it had deployed the latest Kinzhal hypersonic missile on a storage facility in Deliatyn, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. 
•         The Pentagon confirmed this, but could not work out what the tactical feasibility of using such an expensive weapon was. According to them, the Russian Air Force fired the missile at the building at close range.
•         The Russian occupiers have also demonstrated their heavy Solntsepek flamethrowers on Ukrainian territory. According to the UK’s Department of Defence, these systems can fire vacuum bombs, which are banned by international law for use in areas where there could be civilians.
•       Mikhailo Podoliak, adviser to the head of the President’s Office, said on 27 May that Russian forces had already used every possible type of non-nuclear weapon against the Ukrainians.