Cluster munitions will quickly give Ukrainian army battlefield advantage – Defense Express expert

Valerii Riabykh, Director for Development of the Defense Express information and consulting company, said this on Espreso TV. 

“Most likely, it is dual-purpose improved conventional munition (DPICM) cluster munitions. There are a lot of them in American warehouses - they are out of use. They were designed to counter large masses of troops and light armored vehicles. This was part of the concept of confronting the USSR,” he said.

Riabykh noted that this ammunition allows for more efficient performance of tasks on the battlefield, in particular, the destruction of manpower.

“It is about 10 times more effective than conventional ammunition. Its range is 300 meters, and it leaves no chance for survival, let alone continued resistance, for the occupiers. The use of this ammunition would eliminate the problem of rapid barrel wear due to the excessive use of artillery shells. I hope that the decision to supply them will be made. We can definitely say that their presence on the battlefield will very quickly tip the scales in favor of the UKrainian Armed Forces, leaving the Russian troops no chance to gain a foothold on Ukrainian soil for a long time and allowing them to completely de-occupy the land,” the expert concluded.

What we know about cluster munitions

The 2008 pact, known as the Convention on Cluster Munitions, was adopted by 123 countries, including a majority of the 28 NATO members. However, countries such as the United States, Russia, and Ukraine did not become parties to the convention. It is important to note that Russia is actively using cluster munitions in the war against Ukraine.

In December 2022, Ukraine asked the United States to provide it with cluster munitions for MLRS and artillery shells. At the time, the administration of US President Joe Biden was not ready to fulfill this request and was considering it.

In February 2023, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on Western allies to provide the country with cluster munitions.

Following Ukraine's initial request to the United States for cluster munitions, there was an expansion of the appeal. Kyiv specifically asked Washington for MK-20 aircraft cluster bombs with the intention of modifying them for use with drones. It was revealed that there was some level of support for Ukraine's request within the US Congress. However, the Biden administration strongly opposed the proposal due to the international treaty banning cluster munitions that was established in 2008.

Later, 4 members of the US Congress from the Republican Party called on the US President to send cluster munitions to Ukraine.

According to CNN, the administration of US President Joe Biden is seriously considering the possibility of sending Ukraine cluster munitions, the use of which is controversial.