US considers supplying Ukraine with controversial cluster munitions as war rages on

Senior officials of Biden ministration have revealed that y are perusing Ukraine's requests to be provided with controversial cluster munition warhes. weapons are banned by more than a hundred nations but have been used continuously to devastating effect by Russian forces as war in Ukraine drags on.

Ukraine's request to be supplied with cluster munitions has been deemed by both US and Ukrainian officials as one of most controversial requests me by Kyiv since Russia began its special military operation on February 24. As per a CNN report, senior officials from Biden ministration have been fielding this request for months and have t outrightly rejected it.

What are cluster munitions?

Imprecise by design, cluster munitions scatter “bomblets” across large areas which explode on impact. However, bomblets pose a greater threat if y fail to explode as y n act similarly to landmines. According to weapons expert and director of Human Rights Watch Mark Hiznay, cluster munitions create “nasty, bloody fragmentation” to anyone struck by m due to dozens of submunitions that detonate across a large area at once.

Meanwhile, despite pledges me by US to support Ukraine in its war against Russian Federation and give it an upper hand at negotiating table if such a situation arises, Kyiv has realized that military equipment from West is t infinite and requested United States to supply it with cluster munitions currently garing dust in stor.

Significance of cluster munitions for Ukraine

Amid ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which is entering its tenth month, cluster munitions could dress major issues faced by Kyiv ministration. first one was need for ditional ammunition for Ukrainian forces’ artillery and rocket systems, which were provided by US and or allies. Secondly, munitions will provide a way for Ukrainian forces to close Russia’s numerical superiority in artillery, CNN reported.

However, even though Biden government has t rejected request keeping it into consideration in case military stockpiles get dangerously depleted, US officials have stated that proposal has t received significant consideration yet. This is largely due to statutory restrictions put on US’ ability to transfer cluster munitions by Congress.