The US president has authorized the transfer of cluster bombs to Ukraine, a “sad but necessary choice” in the words of a former US military adviser. One hundred and eleven countries have ratified a convention banning the use of these munitions due to the high number of fragments that currently fail to detonate and endanger both sides’ armed forces and civilians. “It was a very difficult decision on my part,” Joe Biden admitted to CNN. But Kiev is in favor of supplying the ammunition because of the “extraordinary impact” on the “already demoralized” Russians.
A new $800 million military assistance package for Ukraine includes cluster bombs for the first time. The decision to provide them was delayed for several months, but eventually Washington changed its mind. Now it had to be reckoned with, “especially against entrenched Russian positions on the battlefield”.
Above all, the Ukrainian troops are short of ammunition. The US president said the same thing when he commented on his decision, which was taken after consultations “with the Allies”. The Ukrainians are running out of ammunition and the shares allies are getting smaller and smaller.
“The Russians use three or four times more artillery shells of different calibers than we do. And we have to save because we can’t bomb with the same intensity,” Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said. “Since these projectiles are effective, they will allow us to make up the difference [na quantidade de munições]”.
“We recognize that cluster munitions pose a risk of harm to civilians. But there is also a huge risk if Russian troops and tanks invade Ukrainian positions because Ukraine does not have enough artillery.” Jake Sullivan, US National Security Advisor
The other argument is that Russia is already using those bombs – and against civilians. Russia’s deadliest cluster bomb attack took place at Kramatorsk railway station in April last year, killing dozens and injuring more than 100. But Human Rights Watch says Ukrainian troops have also used this type of ammunition.
Moscow, Kiev and Washington are not signatories to the 2008 convention banning the use, stockpiling and transfer of cluster bombs. “This is only for the camps, because it is very important not to harm the civilian population,” the Ukrainian minister assured.
Cluster bombs, which can be dropped by aircraft, artillery and missiles, open in the air and release fragments that scatter over a wide area to destroy multiple targets at once. In this case, the United States is supplying the controversial ammunition for 155mm projectiles – NATO’s standard size.
According to the Associated Press, the United States has approximately three million rounds of ammunition with these characteristics. So far, the US has sent two million shells to the 155mm howitzers. But the high number of unexploded fragments becomes a problem that could take years to solve after the end of the war, killing or dismembering civilians along the way.
Cluster munitions are an indiscriminate weapon that poses a serious threat to civilian life even long after a conflict has ended. Its transfer and use by any country, under any circumstances, is against international law.” Amnesty International
Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said a “critical selection” of munitions with an unexploded fragment rate of no more than 2.35% was made.
“I think the concern about unexploded ordnance should be there. But it should be a minor concern compared to the absolute need to expel and remove the Russian occupiers from Ukrainian territory,” said Mark Voyger, a former adviser to the Ukrainian government. Sky News, the US military, which amounted to a “sad but necessary choice”.
For NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the supply of weapons is a decision of each government, while the French government was understanding of the move.
In addition to cluster bombs, the US will send more munitions for HIMARS, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Stryker armored transports. From touring three capitals before traveling to Istanbul, Volodymyr Zelensky received news that his country will receive Czech attack helicopters, Slovak howitzers and a yet to be determined Bulgarian military aid package.
Source: DN
