Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs accuses Russia of using laser weapons in Donbas
During a recent briefing, Arsen Avakov, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, accused Russia of using a new “laser weapon” that affects the eye’s retinas, 112 Ukraine reports.
“Today we are giving awards to two servicemen. One of these soldiers has been hit by a new weapon of the Russian aggressors—a laser weapon that affects the retina of a soldier’s eyes,” Avakov stated
Avakov noted that this new weapon is especially dangerous for border guards, as they constantly look through optical devices. According to him, this is “not the first, not the second, and not the third case of such weapon usage” against Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service (SBGS) and National Guard. The minister emphasized: “We are now taking countermeasures, but we claim that the Russian aggressor is using new weapons against us.”
He added that the SBGS will now employ counteractive devices against laser weapons. Avakov emphasized that the Ukrainian authorities intend to raise the issue of laser weapon usage on an international level. “We don’t know for sure yet what specific weapon is being used, but we are fairly confident that the [Russian] military have received instructions to use them,” he said. “We will use filters and devices, and wear appropriate glasses.”
On Tuesday, May 2, the Head of the SBGS, Petro Tsyhykal, stated that 70 soldiers of the SBGS have been killed, 429 have been wounded, and five have gone missing since warfare began in Donbas, 112 Ukraine reports. According to Avakov, by May 4, the number of wounded had increased to 431.