Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning to Ukraine, stating that Russia possesses a “sufficient stockpile” of cluster bombs and will retaliate if Ukraine uses these munitions against his country. This comes in response to news that the United States has supplied Ukraine with cluster munitions, a fact confirmed by the Pentagon last week. In an upcoming interview, Putin discusses this issue for the first time publicly, although clips from the interview have already been shared on social media.
While Putin claims that Russia has not used cluster bombs against Ukraine, despite evidence suggesting otherwise, he asserts that Russia reserves the right to take reciprocal action if Ukraine deploys these weapons. He states that there has been no need for Russia to use such munitions until now. However, both the Associated Press and other organizations have documented the usage of cluster munitions by both Russian and Ukrainian forces, with clusters found at the site of Russian attacks.
President Biden’s decision to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions has faced significant opposition, including from members of his own party and humanitarian activists who argue that these weapons are unwarranted and will result in civilian casualties. Notably, over 100 countries have banned the use of cluster bombs, but the United States, Ukraine, and Russia have not.
Cluster munitions are highly controversial due to their ability to release smaller bombs upon opening in the air. While effective against concentrated enemy troops, they can pose a risk to nearby civilians if the smaller bomblets do not detonate immediately. Ukraine has pledged to use these munitions away from civilian areas.
US officials view the supply of cluster munitions to Ukraine as a potential “game changer” in their counteroffensive against Russia’s invasion, as the country has been running low on artillery ammunition. Ukrainian General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi has also stated that these munitions could “radically change the battlefield” by countering Russian minefields that have hindered Ukraine’s progress.
In conclusion, both Russia and Ukraine appear to possess and potentially use cluster munitions, sparking controversy and opposition from various quarters. The situation is complex and warrants careful attention.
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