Ukraine's Ordeal: Starvation, Drone Warfare, and Mine Clearance Challenges

Ukraine's Starvation Siege: New Evidence of Russian War Crimes

A recent report by Global Rights Compliance's Starvation Mobile Justice Team sheds light on the harrowing conditions during the 85-day siege of Mariupol by Russian forces in early 2022. The 76-page dossier provides detailed accounts of the siege, which the organization describes as 'hell on earth' for the residents of Mariupol. The siege tactics, viewed through the lens of starvation as a war crime, reveal a calculated strategy by Russian forces to break the civilian population by systematically attacking essential supplies and blocking humanitarian aid.

According to the report, Russian forces not only bombed infrastructure critical for survival—such as electricity substations and water supplies—but also denied evacuation routes and humanitarian assistance, leaving Ukrainian civilians in desperate conditions. The residents had to resort to extreme measures to survive. For example, Nicolai Osychenko, a Mariupol resident, described rationing food with nine others in a single apartment and melting buckets of snow by hand for dirty water.

Deliberately causing hunger and deprivation is recognized as a war crime under international law, and the findings from this report are being submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of a broader dossier on Russia's use of starvation as a weapon. The ICC has already issued four arrest warrants related to Ukrainian war crimes, including for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Anti-Drone Measures Protect Ukraine's Abrams Tanks

In another demonstration of the evolving dynamics of the Ukraine war, Kyiv has introduced a new anti-drone protection system for the American-donated M1 Abrams tanks. The 70-ton tanks, mostly deployed in eastern Ukraine, are now equipped with steel cages over their turrets. Developed by the Ukrainian heavy industry initiative 'Steel Front,' these structures aim to shield sensitive parts of the tanks from drone attacks. According to Oleksandr Myronenko from Metinvest Group, these anti-drone measures are expected to provide significant additional protection for the tanks.

The Steel Front initiative's anti-drone shields stand out for their well-crafted design, which impedes the tank's mobility and crew visibility less than improvised armor solutions previously used. These improvements are part of ongoing efforts to adapt Ukrainian military equipment to the persistent threat posed by drones. The effectiveness of these shields remains to be fully tested, but initial reports indicate a positive impact.

The Challenge of Mine Clearance in Ukraine

As Ukraine continues to grapple with the immediate effects of war, long-term recovery efforts face significant obstacles, one of the most daunting being landmines. Russia's extensive use of minefields and booby traps has turned Ukraine into one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. The situation is particularly dire in combat zones such as Kharkiv, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, and Kherson. Clearing these mines is a Herculean task, made more difficult by Russia's chaotic and perfidious laying patterns, and the use of improvised explosive devices.

Humanitarian mine clearance efforts are critically under-resourced, with significant gaps in personnel and equipment. The 'Association of Ukrainian Mine Clearers' reports over 1,000 civilian casualties resulting from mines, a number likely underreported due to restricted access in conflict zones. The necessity for comprehensive mine clearance is fundamental to Ukraine's reconstruction efforts, with appeals for international assistance in financial resources and advanced technologies.