Last year, the use of cluster munitions resulted in a significant increase in the number of people killed or injured, totaling over 1,000. This sharp rise can largely be attributed to their use in the Ukraine war, particularly by Russia. Cluster bombs, which are prohibited in over 100 countries, are launched from the ground or aircraft and explode mid-air, dispersing smaller bomblets over a wide area.
Survivors of cluster bomb attacks often suffer severe injuries, including burns and blast wounds, which can lead to lifelong medical needs. The presence of unexploded bomblets long after a conflict ends is a major concern for activists. According to a report by the Cluster Munitions Coalition campaign group, out of the 1,172 victims last year, 353 lost their lives, marking the highest number since the group began compiling annual reports 14 years ago.
The report highlights that nearly all victims were civilians, with children comprising three-quarters of the casualties. This is often due to their curiosity and tendency to play with unexploded submunitions. It is worth noting that Ukraine and Russia have both used cluster munitions during the war, with Russia employing them more frequently than Ukraine. However, the report does not provide an exact breakdown of usage.
Although the report covers last year, it does not include the recent use of cluster munitions by Ukraine, which they received from the United States starting in July. Kyiv claims to only use these weapons against Russian troops on the frontline. Russia denies using cluster munitions altogether but has threatened to do so in response.
In contrast to previous years, where casualties were mainly caused by the delayed explosion of bomb remnants, most of the casualties in 2022 resulted from live bombs, according to the report. Both Moscow and Kyiv deny targeting civilians in the ongoing war, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022 and has resulted in the devastation of several Ukrainian cities by Russian forces.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine has ratified the 2008 convention that prohibits the use of cluster munitions, nor has the United States. The decision by the U.S. to supply these weapons to Ukraine this year was justified by claims that they have legitimate military purposes and can save lives by hastening the end of the war. The U.S. also asserts that its cluster munitions generate fewer unexploded bomblets compared to those used by Russia.
In addition to the Ukraine war, the report documents the first known use of cluster munitions in Myanmar last year, as well as their use in Azerbaijan, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.
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