Ukraine War and Disarmament Resources

The war in Ukraine has raised numerous humanitarian disarmament issues. The following resources, primarily from civil society and international organizations, were published during the first six months of the war. They are divided into reports on the use and effects of weapons, and statements and commentaries. The topics covered include: antipersonnel landmines, the arms trade, cluster munitions, the environment and armed conflict, explosive weapons in populated areas, and nuclear weapons and power plants, as well as general statements condemning the Russian invasion and calling for compliance with international law. The sources are presented in reverse chronological order.

REPORTS OF USE, EFFECTS, OR TRANSFERS

Arms Transfers

Forum on the Arms Trade, “Arms Transfers to Ukraine”

Cluster Munitions

Human Rights Watch, “End Cluster Munition Attacks in Ukraine,” May 11, 2022

Human Rights Watch, “Intense and Lasting Harm: Cluster Munition Attacks in Ukraine,” May 11, 2022

Human Rights Watch, “Ukraine: Cluster Munitions Repeatedly Used on Mykolaiv,” March 17, 2022

Human Rights Watch, “Ukraine: Cluster Munitions Launched Into Kharkiv Neighborhoods,” March 4, 2022

Amnesty International, “Cluster Munitions Kill Child And Two Other Civilians Taking Shelter At A Preschool In Ukraine,” February 27, 2022

Human Rights Watch, “Ukraine: Russian Cluster Munition Hits Hospital,” February 25, 2022

Environment and Armed Conflict

Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS) and Zoï Environment Network, “Ukraine Conflict Environmental Briefing: 1. Nuclear Sites and Radiation Risks,” July 2022

PAX, “Environment and Conflict Alert Ukraine: A First Glimpse of the Toxic Toll of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine,” March 9, 2022

Doug Weir and Eoghan Darbyshire, “Russia’s Indiscriminate Use of Heavy Weapons in Urban Areas Is Increasing the Risks from Damaged Energy, Industrial and Commercial Sites,” Conflict and Environment Observatory blog post, March 5, 2022

Eoghan Darbyshire and Doug Weir, “48 Hours in and We Are Already Seeing a Pattern of Environmental Harm in Ukraine,” Conflict and Environment Observatory blog post, February 25, 2022

Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas

Human Rights Watch, “Ukraine: Russian Missile Kills Civilians in Shopping Center,” June 30, 2022

Human Rights Watch, “Ukraine: Russian Strikes Killed Scores of Civilians in Chernihiv,” June 10, 2022

Chiara Torelli, Action on Armed Violence, “Invasion of Ukraine Sees 90% Increase in Ground-Launched Explosive Weapons in Towns and Cities–New Research,” May 18, 2022

PAX, “New PAX Publication Showing Impact on Hospitals from Use of Explosive Weapons in Ukraine,” March 31, 2022

Human Rights Watch, “Ukraine: Deadly Attacks Kill, Injure Civilians, Destroy Homes,” March 18, 2022

James Hardy, Action on Armed Violence, “What Explosive Weapons Are the Russians Using in Ukraine?” March 14, 2022

Human Rights Watch, “Ukraine: Russian Air-Dropped Bombs Hit Residential Area,” March 10, 2022

Amnesty International, “Ukraine: Russian ‘Dumb Bomb’ Air Strike Killed Civilians in Chernihiv–New Investigation and Testimony,” March 9, 2022

Action on Armed Violence, “Ukraine: AOAV’s conflict briefing,” March 7, 2022

Amnesty International, “Russian Military Commits Indiscriminate Attacks during the Invasion of Ukraine,” February 25, 2022

Action on Armed Violence, “Ukraine: AOAV Explosive Violence Data on Harm to Civilians,” 2022 (regularly updated)

Landmines

Human Rights Watch, “Background Briefing on Landmine Use in Ukraine,” June 15, 2022

Human Rights Watch, “Ukraine: Russian Landmine Use Endangers Civilians,” June 15, 2022

Human Rights Watch, “Backgrounder on Antivehicle Landmines,” April 8, 2022

Human Rights Watch, “Ukraine: Russia Uses Banned Antipersonnel Landmines,” March 29, 2022

STATEMENTS AND COMMENTARIES

Arms Trade

Stimson Center, “Ukraine to Set Record for U.S. Security Assistance,” May 23, 2022

Control Arms, “Statement on the Armed Conflict in Ukraine,” February 25, 2022

Autonomous Weapons

Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, “Autonomous Weapon Systems used in Ukraine,” March 22, 2022

Cluster Munitions

Arms Control Association, “Cluster Munitions Use in Ukraine Spurs U.S. Debate,” May 2022

International Campaign to Ban Landmines-Cluster Munition Coalition, “ICBL-CMC Calls on All Parties to End Cluster Munition Use in Ukraine and Respect Global Ban the Weapon,” April 21, 2022

Bonnie Docherty, “Russia’s Use of Cluster Munitions and Other Explosive Weapons Shows Need for Stronger Civilian Protections,” Just Security, March 21, 2022

Early Signs of War Crimes and Human Rights Abuses Committed by the Russian Military During the Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, the Environment and Cyber of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, 117th Cong. (2022) (written testimony of Bonnie Docherty, Senior Researcher, Arms Division, Human Rights Watch).

Article 36, “Article 36 condemns Russia’s use of cluster munitions in Ukraine,” March 16, 2022

International Campaign to Ban Landmines-Cluster Munition Coalition, “ICBL-CMC Outrage at Russia Targeting of Civilians and Ongoing Cluster Bomb Use; States Must Condemn Use and Join International Ban Treaty,” March 15, 2022

US Campaign to Ban Landmines, “USCBL-USCMC Strongly Condemns Continued Use of Cluster Munitions in Ukraine,” March 9, 2022

Humanity and Inclusion, “War in Ukraine Shows Devastating Impact of Heavy Bombing and Shelling on Civilian Population,” March 8, 2022

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, “Statement to the Urgent Debate on the Situation of Human Rights in Ukraine Stemming from the Russian Aggression,” March 3, 2022

PAX, “PAX Calls to Stop Using Cluster Munitions in order to Prevent Civilian Harm,” March 2, 2022

Mines Action Canada, “Cluster Munition Use in Ukraine Condemned”

International Campaign to Ban Landmines-Cluster Munition Coalition, “ICBL-CMC Condemns Russia Cluster Bomb Use and Civilian Harm in Ukraine Conflict,” February 25, 2022 (Updated February 26, 2022)

Environment and Armed Conflict

Doug Weir, “Will the visibility of environmental damage in Ukraine translate into action to address the risks it poses to human health and ecosystems?” Conflict and Environment Observatory blog post, July 28, 2022

Rachel Killean, “The Conflict Reveals the Limits of State Accountability for Environmental Harm in War,” Conflict and Environment Observatory blog post, March 7, 2022

Norwegian People’s Aid, “Joint Statement by Global Civil Society Organizations to UNEA 5.2 on Ukraine”

Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas

Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, “Situation in Ukraine,” March 25, 2022

Bonnie Docherty, “Russia’s Use of Cluster Munitions and Other Explosive Weapons Shows Need for Stronger Civilian Protections,” Just Security, March 21, 2022

Early Signs of War Crimes and Human Rights Abuses Committed by the Russian Military During the Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine: Hearing Before the Subcomm. on Europe, Energy, the Environment and Cyber of the H. Foreign Affairs Comm., 117th Cong. (2022) (written testimony of Bonnie Docherty, Senior Researcher, Arms Division, Human Rights Watch).

Humanity and Inclusion, “War in Ukraine Shows Devastating Impact of Heavy Bombing and Shelling on Civilian Population,” March 8, 2022  

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, “Statement to the Urgent Debate on the Situation of Human Rights in Ukraine Stemming from the Russian Aggression,” March 3, 2022

HALO Trust, “On the Ground in Ukraine: Update from HALO,” March 3, 2022

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, “Remarks at the Launch of the Ukraine Flash Appeal 2022,” March 1, 2022

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, “Statement to the Security Council on Ukraine,” February 28, 2022

International Network on Explosive Weapons, “Ukraine: Use of Explosive Weapons Will be Disastrous for Civilians,” February 24, 2022

PAX, “PAX Calls upon Parties to the Conflict in Ukraine to Protect Civilians,” February 24, 2022

Landmines

US Campaign to Ban Landmines, “USCBL Condemns Use of Anti-personnel Landmines Regardless of Potential Military Value,” April 19, 2022

US Campaign to Ban Landmines, “Campaign Condemns Russian Use of Antipersonnel Mines in Ukraine,” April 1, 2022

International Campaign to Ban Landmines-Cluster Munition Coalition, “Russia Uses Banned Antipersonnel Mines in Ukraine: ICBL-CMC Calls for International Condemnation and Immediate End to Use,” March 30, 2022

Nuclear Weapons

ICAN Statement to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference 2022, August 5, 2022 (delivered by Yelyzaveta Khodorovska, Ukrainian student and nuclear weapons scholar)

Robert Dodge, “Hiroshima and Ukraine–An Existential Teachable Moment,” Common Dreams, August 4, 2022

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, “Nuclear Weapons and the Ukraine War: A Declaration of Concern,” undated

Philip Webber, Scientists for Global Responsibility, “The horror of war: Ukraine, nuclear weapons, and military strategy,” June 10, 2022

WILPF Sweden and WILPF Finland, “Sweden’s and Finland’s NATO Membership Poses Great Risks,” May 16, 2022

John Laforge, “Reducing Tensions, Building Trust, De-escalating,” Counterpunch, April 29, 2022

Robert Dodge, “Ukraine, Existential Threats, and Moving Back From the Brink,” Common Dreams, April 29, 2022

Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy, “Statement on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine: End the War, Stop the War Crimes,” April 21, 2022

Ray Acheson, “Don’t Normalise Nuclear Weapons and War – Abolish Them,” Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom opinion piece, April 19, 2022

“Hibakusha Shares Anti-War Message with Ukraine Photos,” NHK World-Japan, April 7, 2022

“We Reject War and Nuclear Weapons,” Open Letter from Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and Citizens of the World Against War and Nuclear Weapons, March 24, 2022

Rebecca Johnson, “Ukraine War Shows ‘Nuclear Deterrence’ Doesn’t Work. We Need Disarmament,” Open Democracy, March 24, 2022

Peace Boat, “Nuclear Weapons Must Not Be Used: Voices of Hibakusha,” March 24, 2022

Helen Durham, International Committee of the Red Cross, “ICRC Urgently Appeals to States to Ensure that Nuclear Weapons Are Never Used,” March 14, 2022  

“Atomic Bomb Survivor [Setsuko Thurlow] Urges World to Grasp Danger of Nuclear Arms,” NHK World-Japan, March 14, 2022

“Global Medical and Public Health Organizations Call for Immediate End to War in Ukraine and Critical Need to Prevent Nuclear Escalation,” March 10, 2022

“Tell the World that the Use or Threat of Nuclear Weapons Can Never Be Condoned—A Message from Setsuko Thurlow to Japanese Prime Minister Kishida,” Peace Boat news release, March 8, 2022

Carmen Magallón, “Weapons Will Not Save Us,” Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom opinion piece, March 3, 2022

Stuart Casey-Maslen, “Ukraine and the Nuclear Temperature,” Norwegian People’s Aid blog post, March 2022

“The Time to Act Is Now: Joint Statement Nobel Laureates Dmitry Muratov and ICAN on Russian Nuclear Threats,” March 1, 2022

Middle East Treaty Organization, “In Solidarity and Support: A Statement on Ukraine,” March 1, 2022

Ray Acheson, “End War, Build Peace,” Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom opinion piece, March 1, 2022

“Putin raises preparedness for nuclear weapons—Doctors against Nuclear Weapons warn of consequences,” Swedish Doctors against Nuclear Weapons press release, February 27, 2022 (original: “Putin höjer beredskap för kärnvapen—Läkare mot Kärnvapen varnar för konsekvenserna,” Svenska Läkare Mot Kärnvapen pressmeddelande)

ICAN, “Putin Placing Russian Nuclear Weapons on High Alert is Reckless, Dangerous,” February 27, 2022

“Hibakusha Blast Putin’s Boast about Russia’s Nuclear Prowess,” Asahi Shimbun, February 26, 2022

Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy, “Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: An Illegal War of Aggression,” February 25, 2022

PAX, “Deployment of Nuclear Weapons Presents a Huge Risk in Ukraine Conflict,” February 25, 2022 

International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), “ICAN condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” February 24, 2022

“Peace Boat’s Statement Condemning Russia’s Invasion and Calling for Peace in Ukraine,” February 24, 2022

Ira Helfand, “Ukraine and the Threat of Nuclear War: Why Do We Fail to Consider the Danger.” The Nation, February 8, 2022

Nuclear Power Plants and Armed Conflict

Beyond Nuclear, “Fighting around Ukraine Nuclear Plant Risks Lives of Tens of Millions,” August 8, 2022

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), “IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine,” March 6, 2022

Meghan Kruger, “Opinion: ‘15 New Chernobyls’: A Survivor’s Fears about Putin’s War,” Washington Post, March 2, 2022

General Statements Condemning Russia’s Invasion and Encouraging Compliance with International Law

International Committee of the Red Cross, “Ukraine: Amid Mounting Human Cost, Parties Must Uphold International Humanitarian Law,” March 4, 2022

Rete Italiana Pace e Disarmo, “Cessate il fuoco per un’Europa di Pace. Si fermi la guerra in Ucraina con disarmo, neutralità attiva, stop alle armi, riduzione delle spese militari,” March 3, 2022

International Committee of the Red Cross, “Ukraine Crisis: A Statement by Florence Gillette, Head of ICRC Delegation in Kyiv,” February 26, 2022

Human Rights Now, “Statement Strongly Condemning the Russian Military Invasion against Ukraine,” February 25, 2022

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), “Statement from ICRC President Peter Maurer on the conflict in Ukraine,” February 24, 2022

Beatrice Godefroy and Suleiman Mamutov, “Who’s Looking out for the Civilian Casualties of a Ukraine war?” opinion piece, EU Observer, February 23, 2022

United Nations Association–UK, “UNA-UK’s Statement on Russian invasion of Ukraine,” February 24, 2022