Kremlin denies use of banned bombs; Missile strike and explosion injures civilians in Kharkiv; Australia to provide US$50m in support to Ukraine; EU sanctions target more Russian oligarchs, officials; Peace talks end with no deal; International Criminal Court to investigate war crime claims

The Kremlin has denied that the Russian military has used cluster munitions in Ukraine and insisted that the Russian forces only have struck military targets.

Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted Tuesday that “the Russian troops don’t conduct any strikes against civilian infrastructure and residential areas.”

Peskov’s claim contradicts abundant evidence documented by the AP of indiscriminate shelling of homes, schools, and hospitals across Ukraine.

Peskov also rejected the accusations that the Russian military has used cluster munitions and devastating vacuum weapons, dismissing them as fabrications.

Cluster munitions are banned by a UN international treaty, The Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Speaking in a conference call with reporters, he wouldn’t respond to questions about whether the Kremlin is happy with the pace of the offensive and wouldn’t comment on Russian military casualties.

The Russian Defence Ministry said for the first time Monday that it has suffered losses but didn’t name any numbers.