Civilians are facing deadly consequences as Russia intensifies its attacks on Sumy City, Ukraine, using "Grad rockets," a recent report from Amnesty International highlights. These increased attacks have resulted in numerous civilian casualties, with a tragic event on June 3rd claiming at least seven lives and injuring more. The city, located just 30km from the Russian border, is under severe threat as Russian forces push forward in the region.

Amnesty International is urging that these assaults, due to the use of inherently inaccurate Grad rockets, be investigated as potential war crimes. The organization emphasizes that the rockets, fired from BM-21 Grad multiple launch systems, are designed to cover broad areas and are highly likely to strike civilians when used in populated zones. "Inherently inaccurate weapons must not be fired at areas densely populated with civilians," stated Brian Castner, the Head of Crisis Research at Amnesty International.

The situation in Sumy reflects a broader escalation across the province, where Ukrainian authorities report daily shellings range from 80 to 120 incidents. An earlier airstrike on April 13 witnessed the death of 34 civilians, with 117 more injured, underscoring a pattern of indiscriminate violence. Recent advancements by Russian troops in the area have prompted the evacuation of hundreds of settlements, indicating a dire humanitarian situation.

Adding to the tension, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ominously noted that he would not rule out taking control of Sumy, claiming the city poses a "constant threat" to Russia. This statement comes amidst a backdrop of ongoing conflict and aggression in the region.

Legal frameworks like Article 51(4) of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Convention and Article 8(b)(xx) of the Rome Statute explicitly prohibit indiscriminate attacks which fail to distinguish between military targets and civilian areas. The International Criminal Court has been investigating allegations of war crimes in Ukraine since the conflict's escalation in 2022.

As the international community watches closely, the call for accountability grows louder, with rights groups like Amnesty International leading the charge in advocating for the protection of civilians and adherence to international law amidst the chaos of war.