DISINFO: Ukrainians shoot from residential areas, use children as human shields
SUMMARY
Ukrainian nationalists deploy their firing points in houses marked “Do not shoot! Children here!”. This is a tactic often used by terrorists.
RESPONSE
This is an unsubstantiated allegation accusing the Ukrainian Armed Forces of war crimes.
In reality, it is Russian troops and members of Moscow-backed military formations who are applying this tactic. There is well-documented evidence that they place their positions in residential areas. Russia’s military also targets schools, kindergartens, hospitals, orphanages, churches and other civilian objects. One of the most infamous atrocities Russian troops have committed in Ukraine so far was an airstrike on a maternity and children's hospital in the city of Mariupol on 9 March 2022. Three people including a child were killed and 17 people were wounded, according to official information. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the hospital bombing was “proof of genocide” against Ukrainians.
Vladimir Putin launched what he called a special military operation against Ukraine on 24 February 2022 citing NATO’s military infrastructure approaching the Russian border as a pretext. The invasion was followed by airstrikes on military objects. Russian troops later started bombing and shelling civilian targets as well.
Read other disinformation cases accusing Ukrainian troops of violating human rights.