US’ stockpile of cluster munitions is enough to cover Ukraine’s offensive needs for 3 months - military expert Zgurets

He shared the information on Espreso TV.

"Over the past few months, the Ukrainian authorities have persistently requested the Pentagon to supply a substantial quantity of cluster munitions that are not subject to legal restrictions for use by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This ammunition is effective in the fight against the enemy's manpower and armored vehicles in trenches and fortifications. A single cluster munition is much more effective than a conventional 155 mm fragmentation munition. Currently, the US has about 3 million of such munitions in stock, which can actually cover the three-month needs of the Ukrainian army in active offensive combat operations," the military expert said.

Serhiy Zgurets noted that the Pentagon recognizes this decision as rational, but the Biden administration does not approve it, rather citing its own legal restrictions on the use of such ammunition. The US Army does not use cluster munitions, saying that such munitions can pose a threat to civilians. However, the Assistant Secretary of Defense noted that it is up to the Ukrainian side to assess the risks of using cluster munitions.

"In fact, we are asking for two types of ammunition: artillery munitions that are cluster munitions and have 8 submunitions, as well as submunitions that are part of aircraft bombs. In my opinion, there should be no problems here, because the submunitions in American cluster bombs are not subject to restrictions on the fact that they can lie in the ground for a long time and later explode, posing a threat to civilians. I hope that in the long run, the congressmen who are calling on the Pentagon to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine will press this issue. And we also need to repeatedly say that we need such ammunition because of the lack of conventional ammunition," Zgurets summarized.

Supply of cluster munitions to Ukraine

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.