- US to provide controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine
- Concerns over indiscriminate nature and failure to detonate
- Efforts to minimize risk and assurances from Ukraine
The UN and almost 100 nations have banned the weapon, which is expected to boost Ukraine’s sluggish counteroffensive.
President Joe Biden has consented to provide controversial cluster munitions to the Ukrainian military for use against Russian forces.
The weapon explodes in the air, dispersing “bomblets” across a large area.
Opponents argue they kill without discrimination and that some smaller explosives fail to detonate, posing a long-term civilian risk.
The United States will provide cluster munitions with a “dud rate” of less than 2.35 percent to minimize the risk.
Mr. Biden described it as a “difficult decision” but stated that he was compelled to act because “the Ukrainians are running out of ammunition.”
He told CNN that cluster munitions were provided during a “transitional period” before 155mm artillery could be deployed.
The undersecretary of defense for policy, Colin Kahl, stated that “hundreds of thousands” were available but refused to specify how many would be provided initially.
Since the conflict began, Russia has used outdated cluster munitions with a 30% to 40% failure rate.
According to reports, Ukraine has given written assurances that it will not use chemical weapons in populated areas, will map where they are used, and will commit to a post-war cleanup.
Mr. Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, said the U.S. postponed the decision “as long as we could” because to civilian danger.
However, if Russia gains additional area, there is a “huge risk of civilian casualties” because Ukraine lacks artillery.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, stated that cluster munitions could have an “extraordinary psycho-emotional impact” on demoralized Russian forces.
The US, Russia, and Ukraine have not joined a cluster munitions pact, although over 100 governments have.
Mr. Biden told CNN, “We are not signatories to that agreement. But it took me a while to be convinced to do so.”
He stated that he had heeded the advice of US defense officials.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said “individual allies… to make those decisions” and said the alliance has no position.
The United Nations, however, has urged both parties to refrain from using them.
Marta Hurtado, a UN Office for Human Rights spokesperson, said such bombs should be banned immediately.
According to the International Red Cross, cluster munitions “cause a substantial number of avoidable civilian casualties.”
Oleksandra Ustinova, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, is among those who advocate the use of the weapon.
She stated that soldiers were already obligated to disable mines when regaining territory and could therefore capture any unexploded bomblets.
“We must de-mine regardless, but it is preferable to have this capability,” she said.
Sean Bell stated that Ukraine must weigh “the benefits of these weapons, which could provide decisive capability in this war, versus the risk of inheriting the burden of having to clean these up”
In 2003, the United States last employed the weapon on a significant scale in Iraq.
Human Rights Watch believes that the US-led coalition dropped 1,500 cluster bombs in Afghanistan’s first three years.
The cluster munitions being sent to Ukraine are part of another shipment of weapons and ammunition, bringing the United States’ total contribution to arms to $41.3 billion (£32 billion).
