KYIV (Reuters) – The Ukrainian military has confirmed the receipt of cluster munitions, according to a spokesperson on Thursday. This comes shortly after the United States revealed its plans to transfer such munitions to Ukrainian forces. Valeryi Shershen, a spokesman for the Tavria military command in southern Ukraine, stated that Ukraine now possesses cluster munitions but has yet to utilize them. However, he provided limited information on the matter. Cluster munitions, which are prohibited by over 100 countries, consist of multiple smaller bomblets that can cause widespread indiscriminate damage. Ukraine has assured that these munitions will only be used to reclaim occupied territories and will not be deployed in urban areas. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reiterated this commitment during a recent NATO summit.
The decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine has faced opposition from Spain and Canada. Britain, on the other hand, highlighted that it aligns with a convention discouraging their use. Additionally, some Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns about this decision. The Russian embassy in the U.S. has also condemned the move. Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. have not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the production, stockpiling, use, and transfer of these weapons.
It was announced by the United States on July 7 that they would send cluster munitions to Ukraine as part of an $800-million security package. This package aims to ensure that Russian forces, who invaded Ukraine nearly 17 months ago, cannot prevent a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Cluster munitions are known to remain potentially hazardous for decades, as many of the bomblets fail to explode upon impact. Ukraine, however, has reassured that they will handle these munitions responsibly and exclusively for defensive purposes. The country only intends to use them for de-occupying its territory, as reiterated by President Zelenskiy.
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Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka and Kyiv Newsroom, Editing by Timothy Heritage
Credit: The Star : News Feed
