Ukraine employs US-supplied cluster munitions in combat.
Ukraine Begins Using Controversial Munitions Provided by the United States
Ukraine has recently started utilizing the controversial munitions supplied by the United States, according to a confirmation from an administration official on Thursday.
Cluster munitions, a specific type of munition that has been banned by over 100 countries due to the risks they pose to civilians, were agreed upon by President Joe Biden earlier this month. However, the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia are not part of this ban, allowing them to use, produce, transfer, and stockpile these munitions.
White House National Security Council coordinator John Kirby revealed that Ukraine has already begun using the munitions and has provided some initial feedback on their effectiveness.
“We have received some initial feedback from the Ukrainians, and they are using them quite effectively,” he stated. “They are using them appropriately and having a significant impact on Russia’s defensive formations and maneuvering, all while cluster munitions in combat.”>maintaining operational security.”
Biden agreed to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine on July 7, and the Department of Defense confirmed their arrival in the country on July 13.
The munitions consist of multiple submunitions that detonate near the target, dispersing over a larger area. However, the unexploded submunitions can pose a threat to civilians, potentially for years after a conflict ends.
The U.S. initially declined to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions due to the associated risks. However, the use of these weapons by Russia and the U.S.’s dwindling stockpiles prompted a change in their calculations.
U.S. defense officials revealed that the cluster munitions used by Russia in Ukraine have a dud rate between 30% and 40%, while the munitions provided by the U.S. have a dud rate below 2.35%. Additionally, the U.S. has allocated $95 million for de-mining efforts in Ukraine.
In the days following the policy reversal, Biden acknowledged the low supply of munitions available for Ukraine, while a defense official stated that the U.S. had “hundreds of thousands” in stock. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that withholding cluster munitions from Ukraine would leave them defenseless.
Although most NATO countries are part of the treaty against the use of cluster munitions, some have expressed disagreement with Biden’s decision to provide these weapons.
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