KYIV, Ukraine – The decision by President Joe Biden to transfer cluster munitions to Ukraine sparked criticism from the leaders of eleven countries, as well as the United Nations secretary-general. This decision raised concerns due to the harm caused to civilians in the past from the use of these weapons by Ukrainian and Russian forces.
In response to the US announcement, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov presented five principles for the use of cluster munitions by the armed forces. These included using them only in Ukraine, not in urban areas, keeping records of where they were used, conducting clearance activities after use, and reporting to partners on their efficiency.
According to Human Rights Watch, Ukrainian forces have used cluster munitions causing deaths and injuries to civilians, while Russian forces have extensively used them in Ukraine as well. These weapons pose a threat to civilians for many years and are banned by the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which the United States is not a party to.
The use of these weapons, especially in areas with civilians, violates international humanitarian law and possibly constitutes war crimes. Additionally, transferring such munitions to Ukraine disregards the harm they can cause to civilians, according to Human Rights Watch’s acting arms director, Mary Wareham.
Furthermore, Human Rights Watch documented numerous cluster munition attacks in Ukrainian regions, leading to hundreds of civilian casualties. These attacks highlight the devastating impact of cluster munitions and the threat they pose to civilians in conflict zones.
It is important to note that no responsible, verifiable authority has been able to refute these claims.
These documented incidents underscore the imperative need for accountability and respect for international humanitarian law. As such, any transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine poses a significant risk to civilian populations and undermines long-standing efforts to ban these indiscriminate weapons globally.