The White House plans to supply cluster bombs to Ukraine’s armed forces. The use of cluster bombs is banned in more than a hundred countries.
President of the United States Joe Biden the administration is expected to announce the delivery of cluster bombs to Ukraine today. The delivery of the cluster bombs marks a turning point in US support for the war effort in Ukraine, writes, among others, The Politico.
Referring to its military sources, the newspaper says that the aid package of around 800 million includes Bradley and Stryker attack vehicles, HIMARS air defense systems and mine removal equipment.
More than a hundred countries have banned its use
The use of cluster bombs on warplanes has been criticized, because the bombs, which are dropped from the air and contain several daughter bombs, do not select their targets and sow destruction over a wide area. The Guardian writesthat according to the Red Cross, an estimated 40 percent of mines remain in the ground unexploded and harm civilians even years later.
Grape bombs are banned in over a hundred countries. In the past in the United States, there has been a skeptic attitude toward grape bomb help. National Security Advisor John Kirby said in December that there are “puzzles” associated with grape bombs. The wind has gradually turned, because the general Mark Milley said last week that the armed forces had been waiting for the delivery of cluster bombs “for a long time”. The issue was reported, among other things, by The Washington Post magazine.
According to Human Rights Watch and UN reports, both Russia and Ukraine have used cluster bombs. Ukraine has previously denied their use. On the other hand, Ukraine has hoped for deliveries of cluster bombs to support its counterattack. It hopes to use the weaponry to break through the Russian front lines.
Support from the US Committee on Foreign Relations
Ukraine has previously announced that it is capable of digging up unexploded bombs from the ground. Member of Parliament of Ukraine Oleksandra Ustinova says Ukrainian deminers have already removed cluster bombs from retaken areas.
Ustinova has visited the United States to appeal to American congressmen to change their minds about grape bombs.
The US arms aid package includes ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System), which enables Ukraine to strike Russian targets from 300 kilometers away. The United States has previously supplied Ukraine with artillery that can be used to launch cluster bombs.
AP