Lyman cluster bombing

July 2023 Lyman cluster bombing
Part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
A damaged building in Lyman after the attack
LocationLyman, Ukraine
Date8 July 2023
TargetUkrainian civilians
Attack type
cluster munition bombing
Deaths9[1]
Injured13
Perpetrators Russia
MotiveUnknown

On 8 July 2023, at around 9:55 a.m., during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Armed Forces shelled the residential area in the center of Lyman with 9M55K-series Smerch cluster munition. Lyman was at the time approximately 15 kilometers west of Russian-occupied territories. The bombing killed 9 civilians, while 13 were wounded.[2][3][4] It targeted the crossing of Nezalezhnosti and Dubonosa Streets, where locals were selling and trading vegetables grown in their gardens.[1]

It happened during Russia's failed military offensive towards Lyman. Due to the indiscriminate nature of these weapons used in densely populated areas, Human Rights Watch described these strikes as a possible war crime.[1] France likewise described this attack on civilians as a war crime and condemned Russia for it.[5]

  1. ^ a b c "Ukraine: Apparent Russian Cluster Munition Attack". Human Rights Watch. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  2. ^ Maria Kostenko (8 July 2023). "Russian shelling kills at least 8 people in Ukrainian city of Lyman, regional leaders say". CNN. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Russian artillery shelling kills eight civilians in Lyman, Ukraine, military says". Reuters. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  4. ^ Francesca Gillett (8 July 2023). "Ukraine war: Eight killed in Russian strike in Lyman, say authorities". BBC News. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Ukraine – France condemns russian strike on the city of Lyman ( 8 July 2023)". France Diplomacy. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.