What is the impact on the Ukrainian crisis?, The United States provides high lethality cluster ammunition. The United States | lethality | Ukraine
On July 7th, the US government announced an additional $800 million worth of military aid to Ukraine, which includes lethal cluster ammunition classified as prohibited by US law.
What is the killing power of cluster ammunition? Why did the US break through its own legal constraints and provide this ammunition to Ukraine? How do all parties view this move?
What is the killing power of cluster ammunition
The so-called cluster ammunition refers to airborne bombs or artillery shells made by combining more than ten or even hundreds of small ammunition. After being dropped, small bombs are released in the air on a large scale and detonated when or after touching the ground. But these small bombs may also fail to detonate properly and become duds, posing a long-term threat to civilians near the scattered areas.
Cluster ammunition has stronger killing power and a greater likelihood of causing civilian casualties than regular ammunition. The US military has used cluster ammunition in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Kosovo War, Afghanistan War, and Iraq War, causing extensive damage to civilian facilities and numerous civilian casualties.
Why does the US provide cluster ammunition
On the 7th, US National Security Assistant Sullivan argued at a regular White House press conference that the United States recognizes that duds in cluster ammunition can harm civilians. He said that in the absence of ammunition in Ukraine, Russia may "occupy more Ukrainian territory," which the United States cannot accept.
The US Department of Defense issued a statement on the same day stating that providing cluster ammunition to Ukraine was a decision made by the Biden administration after extensive consultation with Congress, US allies, and partners. The list of weapons and equipment listed in the statement shows that the cluster ammunition for this aid to Ukraine was fired from 155mm caliber howitzers, and the specific quantity has not been disclosed.
US Department of Defense spokesperson Patrick Reid previously stated that the latest test data showed that the dud rate of US aid to Ukraine has dropped to no more than 2.35%, which is the result of "careful selection".
Nevertheless, the US government's provision of cluster ammunition to Ukraine still violates relevant US laws. US law prohibits the production, use, or transfer to other countries of cluster ammunition with a dud rate higher than 1%. According to The Washington Post, each cluster ammunition used by the United States to aid Ukraine contains 72 small bombs, with a dud rate of approximately 6%. This means that for every launch of this type of cluster bomb, an average of at least 4 small bombs are duds.
What are the reactions of all parties
After the United States announced the provision of cluster ammunition to Ukraine, UN Secretary General's Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Hack, immediately stated that UN Secretary General Guterres does not want cluster ammunition to continue to be used on the battlefield.
Democratic Party senators Patrick Lech and Jeff Merkley have said that the decision to provide cluster ammunition to Ukraine is a serious mistake, and the US will have to pay an "unbearable moral and political price.".
Kosacev, Vice Chairman of the Russian Federal Council, said on social media that the United States would be involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict at all costs, including killing civilians. The United States must bear full responsibility for all casualties caused by this terrible weapon in the future.
TASS reported that Russian Ambassador to the United States Antonov said on the 7th that the US government completely ignores the inhumane views of experts, legislators, and others regarding the use of cluster ammunition, and ignores civilian casualties.
According to US media reports, at least 38 human rights organizations have publicly opposed the US providing cluster ammunition to Ukraine.
Since the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis in February last year, the US government has been pouring oil into the fire and providing over 40 batches of military aid to Ukraine, totaling over 40 billion US dollars. More and more American people are opposing the use of large amounts of funds to support overseas conflict parties such as the Ukraine crisis, and Russia has repeatedly criticized Western countries led by the United States for adding fuel to the Ukraine crisis.