The United States announces providing Ukraine with a new batch of military aid ammunition, including cluster ammunition | Ukraine | United States
On July 7th local time, Colin Karl, Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Affairs, announced that the latest Ukrainian aid program will provide additional artillery systems and ammunition, including cluster ammunition, as well as additional equipment such as anti-aircraft ammunition, armored vehicles, and anti armor weapons.
The US Department of Defense stated that the date and progress of providing cluster ammunition will be determined based on the situation of the conflict in Ukraine.
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US media: Biden approves the supply of prohibited weapons and cluster ammunition to Ukraine
According to the Washington Post on July 7th local time, US President Biden has approved the supply of prohibited weapons and cluster ammunition to Ukraine. On the 7th, the US Department of Defense will announce a new round of military support for Ukraine, including a large amount of cluster ammunition.
Reuters reported on the 6th, citing US officials familiar with the situation, that as part of a new round of military support worth $800 million, thousands of cluster ammunition will be transported to Ukraine. The Pentagon claims that these ammunition will help the Ukrainian army fight against the Russian army on the front line. Faced with doubts from the outside world that the use of cluster ammunition may cause harm to civilians, the Pentagon has argued that it will provide ammunition that reduces the "dud rate" and stated that this will reduce the number of unexploded ordnance that leads to accidental civilian deaths.
The website of the German newspaper Le Monde reported on the 1st of this month that the decision by the United States to provide cluster ammunition may face opposition from other allies and non-governmental organizations. On the 7th, German Foreign Minister Berber stated that as a contracting party to the Oslo Agreement, Germany will implement relevant regulations. The so-called Oslo Agreement refers to the Convention on Cluster Munitions signed in the Norwegian capital in 2008, which explicitly prohibits the use, storage, production, and transfer of cluster ammunition.
US Anti War Organization: US "Bad Decision" Will Keep Conflict Affected for Decades
Benjamin, the co-founder of the US anti war organization "Pink Code", criticized the US plan to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine in an interview with the Russian satellite news agency on the 7th, saying that the consequences of this "bad decision" would make the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict last for decades, including causing casualties of local children. She also stated that it is necessary to call for a ceasefire and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, but unfortunately, the United States is hindering this effort.
The United States has committed numerous atrocities by using cluster ammunition
The so-called "cluster ammunition" can contain dozens to hundreds of explosive submunitions in a warhead, depending on the model, and can be launched by air or ground. Once fired, the bullet explodes in the air, and the attack area of the bullet can cover several rugby fields, making it difficult for life to escape within this range.
Unexploded cluster ammunition poses a long-term threat to civilians
Even more serious is that some submunitions fail to explode immediately after firing, and they are buried deep underground for a long period of time. Even years after the conflict ends, there is still a risk of explosion if someone touches or steps on them, which may lead to death or serious injury, posing a long-term threat to civilians. Land contaminated by cluster ammunition cannot be cultivated due to safety issues, which also hinders the economic and social development of the host country and region.
The United States has previously used cluster ammunition in multiple wars, and according to Reuters, the last time the United States used cluster ammunition was on the Iraq battlefield in 2003. Earlier, the United States had used this type of ammunition in countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, causing huge disasters to the host countries. Reuters reported that between 1964 and 1973 alone, the United States threw approximately 260 million cluster ammunition at Laos, and so far, less than 400000, or less than 0.47%, of the ammunition has been cleared, causing at least 11000 deaths.