Ukraine to share report on consequences of cluster munitions use with US

This was reported by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov in an interview with CNN

Reznikov said he would hand over the document: "probably on Monday or Tuesday," i.e. on July 24 or 25.

"We'll report about the consequences of this using [cluster munitions] so I think that next week I would have first report and I will share with my partners in Pentagon this reports. I hope that they will be more efficient than normal ammunition," the Ukrainian minister said.

Before the report is made public, Reznikov did not want to go into details, but said he hoped they would prove effective, especially against the artillery systems, especially during the counter battery fighting and also they will be efficient against the armored personnel carriers, for the infantry fighting vehicles, they will also be good against their infantry in the fields.

Also, White House spokesman John Kirby said that Ukrainian forces are using the cluster munitions that the United States gave them against Russia properly and effectively.

“They are using them appropriately. They’re using them effectively and they are actually having an impact on Russia’s defensive formations and Russia’s defensive maneuvering,” Kirby said.

The report is part of an agreement with the Pentagon to receive cluster munitions.

The supply of DPICMs to Ukraine was due to low stock levels of the standard unitary 155mm artillery round, the US said. Jake Sullivan, the US president's national security adviser, said it was a temporary supply of cluster munitions.

Supply of cluster munitions to 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 as cluster munitions are banned by a 2008 international treaty.

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

On June 30, media reported that the administration of US President Joe Biden is seriously considering the possibility of sending Ukraine cluster munitions, the use of which is controversial.

On July 7, The UN Human Rights Office in Geneva has responded to reports that the United States may provide cluster munitions to Ukraine by opposing such supplies.

On July 7, the United States announced the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine.

On July 12, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that Ukraine would have been defenseless if the United States had not decided to supply it with cluster munitions.