Biden’s dangerous game: US cluster bombs reignite Ukraine-Russia conflict

Ukrainian forces, in a bid to thwart Russian military advancements, have begun deploying US-provided cluster munitions, as reported by The Washington Post citing anonymous Ukrainian officials. This move has sparked widespread controversy due to the risk these weapons pose to civilians and their prohibited status in many countries.

The decision to supply the controversial weaponry was made by US President Joe Biden, bypassing certain arms export regulations. The US administration has defended its action, citing it as a necessary step to bolster Ukraine’s military efforts until additional arms can be supplied.

The anonymous Ukrainian officials indicated that these weapons are being used to counter heavily fortified Russian trenches, which are slowing down Ukraine’s attempts to regain control over contested territories. The officials purportedly further elaborated that these cluster munitions would help offset their disadvantage in terms of artillery and troop numbers.

Reports also highlighted that these weapons are not only being used at front-line positions in southeastern Ukraine, but also near the Russian-controlled city of Bakhmut, which has been a focal point of intense fighting since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in February of the previous year.

Ukraine engages US-provided cluster munitions in confrontation with Russian forces. Image courtesy of BestGraphics_Com from Pixabay.

Despite facing opposition from human rights groups, European allies, and members of his own party due to the potential civilian threat these weapons carry, President Biden authorized the delivery of cluster munitions to Ukraine. These weapons, banned in over 120 countries, disperse smaller bomblets over a large area, posing a significant threat to civilians long after the conflicts have ended.

Biden bypassed US law prohibiting the transfer of cluster munitions with a failure rate exceeding 1 percent by invoking a seldom-used provision of the Foreign Assistance Act, citing crucial US national security interests.

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning to Ukraine about the use of cluster munitions, threatening retaliation should they be used against Russian troops. It’s notable that Russia has already used cluster munitions in populated areas of Ukraine multiple times since the invasion began in 2022, according to United Nations reports.

However, Ukraine has assured that they will avoid deploying these weapons in population centers, and commit to clearing areas where these weapons have been used post-conflict.