Human Rights Watch alleged the Russian army carried out an unlawful, indiscriminate, and disproportionate attack.

In the intersection near the bridge were a dozen Ukrainian soldiers, some helping the civilians carry their luggage and children.

[5][6][7][8] According to Human Rights Watch, it is possible that the projectiles were "observed" by the Russians, who would then know where they were landing and could easily have adjusted the aim away from the intersection.

The repeated nature of the attacks suggests that Russian forces "violated their obligations under international humanitarian law not to conduct indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks that harm civilians, and failed to take all feasible measures to avoid civilian casualties.

"[1] The human rights organisation also stated that the Ukrainian forces "have an obligation to take all feasible precautions to avoid or minimize civilian harm," such as refraining from engaging in combat in populated areas.