As the international community tries to bring the Ukraine conflict to an early end, there are reports accusing Russia of using cluster and vacuum bombs, weapons condemned by international organisations, during its invasion of its ex-Soviet neighbour.
Such reports, forwarded this week by Amnesty International and Human rights Watch, as well as by Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, have sparked more global concern.
Cluster bombs are banned by the United Nations under the Convention of Cluster Munitions due to their devastating impact on civilians. As such, using them constitutes a war crime.
Adopted in Dublin, Ireland in May 2008, the convention was signed in Oslo that December before it finally entered into force in August 2010. To date, a total of 123 states have joined the convention, comprising 110 state parties and 13 "signatories". Yet both Russia the United States have shunned it despite -- or perhaps because of -- the fact they are major producers of this weapon of war.
Although these accusations against Russia have yet to be verified, they sound convincing given that Russian forces have indiscriminately attacked non-military targets since the beginning of the invasion, prompting anti-war Russians to describe President Vladimir Putin as an "insane little czar".
Moscow was accused of using the same banned weapons in its previous battles with Chechnya.
According to Amnesty International, Russian cluster bombs last Friday hit a pre-school in northeastern Ukraine that was being used to shelter civilians. Three people, including a child, were killed in the brutal assault.
As of yesterday, Russian forces had taken the Ukrainian city of Kherson, the first major urban centre to fall, and its forces are trying to lay siege other cities in a bid to cut off the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
The war looks set to escalate as the European Union, following wide-ranging sanctions against Russia, has determined to finance the purchase and delivery of weapons for Ukraine.
Moscow initially cited fears over the bloc's hostile expansion as one of the reasons for its aggressive moves against Ukraine.
Mounting civilian deaths are triggering widespread alarm. According to Ukrainian authorities, at least 350 civilians including 14 children have been killed, and a million have fled the country since the invasion began in late February.
In an emergency meeting this week, the UN General Assembly voted 141-5 in favour of a resolution condemning Russia's actions.
Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Eritrea voted against while 35 countries including China and India abstained.
During the extraordinary debate, the United Nations also condemned Mr Putin's decision to put his nuclear forces on alert.
The Kremlin has not commented on the allegations about the use of cluster munitions and attempts to secure a ceasefire by the global community are seemingly having little effect.
Yet it is clearly in the world's best interests for the military operation against Ukraine to stop. Both sides are obliged to consider a peaceful resolution through negotiations.
But before any breakthrough can be made, the Kremlin and its forces must stop their shameful acts -- first and foremost, the killing of civilians.
