On the evening of July 4, a massive explosion rocked the residential neighborhood of Maakivka in eastern Ukraine. The fiery blast, visible for miles, occurred in close proximity to a hospital, raising concerns about the dangerous proximity of ammunition storage to civilian areas.
Makiivka, located near Donetsk city, is under the control of Russian forces and has been the target of Ukrainian drones and artillery strikes. In January, Ukrainian rockets struck a technical school being used as barracks in Makiivka, resulting in a high number of casualties. Following the recent explosion, Russia’s defense ministry claimed that Ukraine had targeted the hospital, causing damage and casualties.
However, Ukraine’s military released drone footage to refute these claims. The footage showed a housing complex with a courtyard filled with artillery rockets used by the Grad rocket-launching artillery systems. These rockets, measuring nearly three meters long, are equipped with high-explosive fragmentation warheads and can be fired in rapid succession at targets located miles away. The footage also revealed that the ammunition dump was located within a residential complex, raising concerns about the safety of nearby civilians.
The nighttime footage captured the moment when a Ukrainian munition exploded precisely in the center of the courtyard. The blast caused the rockets to ignite, propelling them in different directions, some even piercing through buildings and hitting the surrounding city. Eventually, a critical mass of munitions detonated, creating a massive fireball that consumed the housing complex.
The collateral damage from the explosion was substantial, with fragments hitting City Hospital No. 2 Vostochnaya located 350 meters away. The extent of injuries to nearby civilians remains unclear, but the incident was undoubtedly terrifying for those living nearby.
The ammunition dump in Makiivka was a significant military target housing artillery weapons that could be used against Ukrainian forces. However, the location of the dump within a civilian area raises ethical concerns. While it is common for armed forces to utilize urban landscapes for cover and concealment, responsible military forces are obligated to evacuate civilians from buildings serving as permanent or semi-permanent fighting positions, as well as keep military bases and facilities at a safe distance from hospitals and refugee camps.
The rules governing civilian casualties in warfare become complicated when facilities providing services to combatants, such as restaurants, entertainment venues, and housing establishments, are involved. A recent example of this complexity occurred when Russia targeted a pizzeria in Kramatorsk using ballistic missiles, resulting in civilian casualties. International law allows for civilian casualties in some cases when striking a valid military target, but proportionality must be considered. In this context, it appears that the Kramatorsk pizzeria strike may not have met the test of proportionality.
It is crucial to maintain journalistic integrity by presenting a balanced view of the topic. While Russia has launched countless indiscriminate attacks on cities, Ukraine must also be mindful of proportionality when assessing potential collateral damage for the sake of targeting valid military objectives.
In summary, the recent explosion in Makiivka, Ukraine highlights the dangers of storing ammunition near residential areas. The incident raises ethical considerations regarding the use of urban landscapes for military purposes and the need to protect civilians. Both Ukraine and Russia must consider proportionality when assessing potential collateral damage, ensuring that military objectives justify any regrettable harm to non-combatants.
