The Biden administration plans to send cluster munitions to Ukraine, with the announcement scheduled for Friday. Human rights groups have expressed concern over the use of these weapons due to the potential danger they pose to civilians.
Cluster munitions are weapons that disperse numerous smaller bombs or submunitions over a wide area. These submunitions often fail to explode upon impact, leaving behind unexploded ordnance that can cause harm to civilians long after the conflict ends.
Although the United States is not a party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the use, production, and transfer of these weapons, the Biden administration has stated that it will only send cluster munitions to Ukraine that have a low dud rate. This means they are less likely to fail to explode upon impact.
Human rights groups argue that even cluster munitions with a low dud rate still pose a significant danger to civilians. They point to instances where Russia has used cluster munitions in Ukraine, resulting in devastating consequences for civilians. For example, in March, a cluster munitions strike in Kharkiv, an eastern Ukrainian city, caused the deaths of at least 40 people.
The Biden administration’s decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine is generating controversy. Critics, including human rights groups, believe that these weapons are too hazardous for use. However, the administration maintains that they are necessary to assist Ukraine in defending itself against Russia’s invasion.
The announcement of the cluster munitions shipment is part of a larger $800 million weapons package being sent by the Biden administration to Ukraine. Alongside cluster munitions, the package includes artillery, armored vehicles, and other weaponry.
