"Western Weapons Sent to Support Ukraine May Have Been Seized by Russia and Used to Conceal War Crimes"

West and Ukraine Strengthen Tracking and Monitoring of Supplied Weapons
Experts "Final Destination of Looted Weapons Unknown... Could Pose Serious Threat to International Security"

A multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) shelling Russian positions on the Donbas front in eastern Ukraine. Photo by AFP, Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] There are concerns that Russia may seize Western weapons supplied to Ukraine and commit atrocities.

Recently, the British daily The Telegraph reported that investigators are analyzing evidence suggesting that Russian forces may have used such a strategy to cover up war crime allegations.

One of the main concerns of Western countries is that weapons supplied to bolster Ukraine's military strength might instead fall into Russian hands.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin also supported the plan to send weapons seized from Ukraine to pro-Russian forces in Donbas. After the initial attempt to capture Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, failed, President Putin shifted the war's objective to the 'complete independence' of pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region and is focusing all efforts on this goal.

A source told The Telegraph that efforts to track weapons are being strengthened to prevent Western-supplied arms in Ukraine from being used to commit atrocities on the battlefield.

Moreover, the newspaper introduced that the UK, which is actively providing weapons and funds to Ukraine, has recently taken measures to track the whereabouts of the multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) it supplied.

A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence stated, "We rigorously assess the risks related to the defensive capabilities we provide to Ukraine, and when supplying weapons, we ensure that the Ukrainian military signs end-user agreements."

Previously, the UK promised to supply Ukraine with the M270 MLRS. With a range of up to 80 km, the M270, along with the US MLRS HIMARS, is considered a representative weapon supplied by the West to Ukraine.

Recognizing Western concerns, the Ukrainian government has also taken action. On the same day, the Ukrainian government unveiled a proposal to establish a parliamentary committee to track weapons received from the West.

Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to the President of Ukraine, acknowledged the concerns of supporting countries and emphasized, "All weapons received from the West are registered before being sent to the front lines," adding, "Everything is clearly controlled, and the process will become even more transparent."

Experts warn that although a massive amount of weapons is arriving in Ukraine, no one can guarantee their final destination. If these weapons flow into conflict zones, terrorist groups, or criminal organizations, they will pose a serious threat to international security.