You're reading: State Border Service again records use of laser weapons by Russia-backed separatists

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has again recorded in the area of military operation of the combined forces signs of the use of prohibited special-purpose laser weapons by Russia-backed separatists, the liaison department of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported on March 29.

“A few days ago, one of the border guards, being on duty at the control post Maryinka, while observing the area of responsibility through optical devices, was blinded by a beam used from the side of the temporarily occupied territory … The established medical diagnosis and the nature of the lesion allow us to conclude about a possible use of high power light emitters, the so-called blinding lasers,” it said.

The State Border Guard Service notes that earlier such cases were also recorded. “In July 2016, three servicemen of the Kramatorsk border detachment received similar eye injuries while standing guard in the same direction. They were monitoring the Russian-backed forces using optical devices,” the message reads.

Information about the possible use of laser weapons by the Russia-led forces was communicated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and representatives of international and human rights organizations.