2023-07-14 04:02:47
After Ukraine announced, Thursday, that it had received internationally banned cluster munitions from the United States, it confirmed that it would use this weapon “on a small scale” in its war with Russia.
Scope of use of cluster bombs
On Thursday night, Archyde.com news agency quoted a Ukrainian military official as saying that Kiev will use cluster munitions in a “limited manner.” The Ukrainian military spokesman, Valery Chershin, explained that these munitions, which are banned by more than 100 countries around the world, will only be used to “expel concentrations of enemy soldiers.”
Ukrainian and American confirmation
On Thursday, the commander of the Ukrainian army, Oleksandr Tarnavsky, confirmed that his forces had obtained cluster bombs. Expect that to drastically change the situation on the field. He added that Russia knows that Ukraine will excel with these bombs, vowing not to use them in densely populated areas. US General Douglas Sims, in turn, confirmed that Kiev obtained the bombs, describing the war as difficult.
Fast delivery
Shershin was the first Ukrainian official to talk regarding the arrival of these munitions to Ukraine, on Thursday, less than a week following Washington announced its intention to supply Kiev with these weapons, but confirmed that Kiev has not used these munitions yet.
Biden’s decision
On July 7, Washington announced that it would send a new package of military aid, including cluster munitions. This decision came despite the fact that this weapon is banned by more than 100 countries around the world, including a number of countries allied to Washington, and despite the opposition of politicians in Washington to the decision. Biden considered that the decision to give Ukraine cluster munitions was very difficult. Washington says that the purpose of supplying Ukraine with this weapon is to ensure that Russia does not stop the progress of the counterattack that Kiev is currently launching.
What are cluster munitions?
The International Red Cross website says that cluster munitions are weapons consisting of a container that opens in the air and scatters large numbers of “bomblets,” or explosive submunitions, over a wide area. For example, the number of submunitions ranges from several dozen to over 600. Cluster munitions can be delivered by aircraft, artillery or missiles. Most of the submunitions are intended to detonate on impact. Most of them have the advantage of free falling, meaning that they are not directed individually towards any target. Cluster munitions were first used in World War II, and a large proportion of the cluster munitions in stockpiles today were designed for Cold War use. Its main purpose was to destroy multiple military targets scattered over a wide area, such as formations of tanks or infantry, and to kill or injure combatants.
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