[walrusfromspace]

While there are treaties intended to limit the usage of cluster bombs the Russian Federation is not a signatory on any of those. Neither is the United States for that matter.

[chadash]

so dropping cluster bombs on civilian population centers is ok if you didn’t sign an agreement not to?

[milansm]

That’s how the world works, unfortunately. NATO did the same thing in Yugoslavia back in 99. No one was held responsible.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ni%C5%A1_cluster_bombing

[ThunderSizzle]

It's okay as long as you win the war.

The winner won't find themselves guilty of war crimes, but the loser will be.

[vmception]

Just a passing thought: the same incentives exist for extremist terrorist groups, if they win they achieve sovereign immunity absolving all past indiscretions, and maybe a cool new emoji in the next iOS update. when people have nothing to lose they have all to win.

[rootusrootus]

That's only true if you win the war against those who would judge you. Ukraine isn't the judge.

[science4sail]

Yep, same with landmines: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa_Treaty

[adastra22]

Legally, everything is ok for a sovereign nation to do unless there are signed agreements prohibiting it. That's how law works.

[megous]

Based on what?

[adastra22]

it's the common basis of international law. Sovereign nations aren't beholden to anyone else. It's what sovereignty means: they get to do whatever the fuck they want according to their own made-up rules, unless a treaty they have signed explicitly outlaws the thing in question.

There are a lot of treaties governing proper rules of warfare. Russia is entered into many of them. But Russia has not signed any of the treaties outlawing the use of cluster munitions.