Russian army units used cluster shells of the Smerch multiple launch rocket systems against the Ukrainian anti-terrorist operation forces, reports GHN based on Ukrinform.
Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) information and analytical center spokesman Andriy Lysenko said this at a briefing on Wednesday.
"Indeed, we have evidence that the positions of the ATO forces were shelled with such [cluster] rockets launched from the Smerch multiple launch rocket systems," he said, when commenting on the use of cluster bombs by the enemy.
Lysenko said that according to labels, these shells were made on June 16, 2003. At the same time, Ukraine last received similar shells in 1991, before it gained independence.
"This fact says that the shells used by terrorists are originating from Russian territory, where they were made. Moreover, it shows that they were launched by regular units of the Russian army, because only well-trained people can do the launch and equip the system with these shells. Terrorists did not have such an opportunity," he said.