RUSSIA has raised the use by Ukraine of so-called petal mines against civilian targets in the eastern Donbass region with the United Nations, officials said today.

“On August 1, we sent a letter to the UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, and to the president of the UN security council, Zhang Jun, containing additional information on Ukraine’s use of Lepestok mines against civilian targets in Donbass, with corresponding photo materials attached to it,” Russian UN representative Dmitry Polyansky said. 

The cluster munitions, difficult to spot, are banned under international law, while their use is considered a war crime under the Geneva Convention. 

Hundreds were scattered in residential areas in the city of Donetsk in the early hours of Sunday shortly after Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky issued an urgent evacuation order. 

More petal bombs were dropped during shelling of the city’s Kirov district today, according to locals. At least one civilian is said to have been injured. 

Mines were also found on other streets, with local authorities highlighting them with spray paint and advising residents to stick to footpaths and remain vigilant.