Ukraine And Use Of Cluster Munitions In War Against Russia

Recently, there have been fears over the supply of arms to Ukraine by the United States of America. As a matter of fact, according to Kyiv and Pentagon, the much-anticipated American-made cluster munitions that the United States agreed to supply to Kyiv are now in Ukraine.

“We just got them, we haven’t used them yet, but it can radically change (the battlefield),” Brig. Gen. Oleksandr Tarnavsky told CNN at an interview in Ukraine. Tarnavsky is commander of the “Tavria” Joint Forces Operation, which is operating on a large section of the southern Ukraine front.

Tarnavsky added: “The enemy also understands that with getting this ammunition, we will have an advantage… the Russians think that we will use it on all areas of the front. This is very wrong. But they are very worried”.

The munitions scatter multiple bomblets and are banned by more than 100 states due to their threat to civilians. Ukrainian forces, battling for every inch of territory taken by Russian forces over the past 504 days, are grateful amid low supplies of the 155mm standard artillery round. The US agreed to supply them to boost Ukrainian ammunition supplies. The US decided to send cluster bombs after Ukraine warned that it was running out of ammunition during its summer counter-offensive.

President Joe Biden called the decision “very difficult”.

A High ranking officials have sought to assuage concern. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that the Ukrainians will only use cluster munitions in “appropriate place. Kyiv has already committed to make sure that these munitions are not used in populated areas, Austin added.

“They will record the places that they use them and they will prioritize de-mining efforts,” he said. A line echoed by the Pentagon who reiterated that Ukraine, does not have “any interest in using the cluster munitions anywhere near the civilian population, unlike the Russians”.

In Tarnavsky’s interview with CNN, a rare appearance with Western media, he covered a lot of ground in his limited time between meetings with his staff and inspecting troops across the front line.The general says Ukraine is carrying out “large scale offensives,” while also admitting Ukrainian troops have made modest gains, especially in the south.

What are the cluster munitions the US is supplying Ukraine with and why are they so controversial?

The vast majority sent are artillery shells with a lower than 2.35% “dud rate”, a reference to the percentage of bomblets which do not explode immediately and can remain a threat for years.

The weapons are effective when used against troops in trenches and fortified positions, as they render large areas too dangerous to move around in until cleared.

Making progress along the southern front is central to Ukraine’s summer plans, Kyiv has had to start to fight smart, at least in the short term, by economizing on artillery usage.

Ukraine uses cluster munitions only to de-occupy its own internationally recognized territories. These ammunitions are not used on the officially recognized territory of Russia.

The Defense Forces of Ukraine do not use these munitions in cities to avoid risks to the civilian population. Cluster munitions are used only in places of concentration of Russian troops to break through their defense lines with minimal risk to the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. Saving the lives of Ukrainian citizens – civilians and military – remains Ukraine’s top priority. Ukraine keeps strict records of the use of these weapons.

Tarnavsky uses a metaphor for the current state of the fighting: “It’s like in boxing, we hold the opponent at arm’s length. We don’t let them get close. Why? Because close combat is a completely different thing. So, at long distances, we defeat (them) effectively.”

Ukraine is trying to reach well beyond frontlines to hit command and control nodes, as they did successfully this week.

After the complete de-occupation of the territories of Ukraine, the territories where cluster munitions were used will be prioritized for demining. This will reduce the risks associated with unexploded cluster munitions elements.