Attack on Dnipro: June 2nd
In the early hours of June 2, Russian occupation forces launched a heavy bombardment of Dnipro, employing cluster munitions. This tactic, designed to maximize civilian casualties, resulted in devastating losses. Among the dead were Major Anton Yarmolenko, deputy head of a fire and rescue unit, and a child born in 2023, whose body was pulled from the rubble as of 9:40 AM.
Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov confirmed the attack on his Facebook page, highlighting the severe damage inflicted by the cluster bombs.
'Most of you have seen the photos of the horror the bastards caused in Dnipro again. But as mayor, I need to point out the details. Just look at the ground. The entire asphalt is pockmarked. This is a cluster munition. They deliberately use cluster bombs to maximize casualties among civilians, police, rescuers, and utility workers!!!' Borys Filatov
Aftermath of the Attack
The strike damaged a four-story apartment building, where a search-and-rescue operation is still underway. A particularly insidious feature of cluster munitions is the presence of unexploded submunitions, which heighten the risk of further casualties. The enemy also employed a double-tap strike tactic—striking the same location twice—indicating a clear intent to harm civilians. The situation remains critical, with emergency crews continuing their work at the scene.
This attack marks an escalation of violence in the region and the use of banned weaponry, raising serious concerns for civilian safety. Cluster munitions, which carry a high risk of unintended casualties, are especially dangerous when rescue services are trying to aid the wounded. Such assaults can have severe humanitarian consequences and demand an international response to protect civilians in conflict zones. For context, cluster bombs are prohibited by over 100 countries under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, though neither Russia nor Ukraine is a signatory.
The tragic events in Dnipro are part of a broader pattern of escalating violence, as evidenced by another recent incident where seven lives were lost in a massive attack. Such repeated assaults raise urgent questions about the safety of civilians and the international community's response to these violations of humanitarian law.