The Biden administration has decided to supply cluster bombs to Ukraine, AP reports citing sources familiar with the decision.

The United States plans to announce Friday that the Pentagon will send cluster munitions to Kiev as part of a new military aid package worth about $800 million, said U.S. officials who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

On Thursday morning, the New York Times reported that the United States was expected to announce the provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine to fight the Russian invasion, citing an unidentified senior Biden administration official.

The decision comes despite widespread concern that the controversial bombs could cause civilian casualties.

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, some cluster munitions fail to explode 40% of the time.

U.S. officials said Thursday that the number of unexploded cluster munitions entering Ukraine is less than 3 percent, meaning less threat to civilians.

US officials said on Thursday that they expect an announcement on military aid to Ukraine on Friday.

HRW calls on Russia and Ukraine to stop using cluster munitions that harm civilians

Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have used cluster munitions that have killed Ukrainian civilians, Human Rights Watch said in a report Thursday, as the U.S. considers a request for such devices from the Ukrainian government, Reuters reported.

Human Rights Watch called on both Russia and Ukraine to stop using these weapons and called on the US to stop supplying them. More than 120 countries have signed an international treaty banning the weapon, which typically breaks down into large numbers of smaller bombs over a large area and can kill civilians for months or even years.

Russia, Ukraine and the USA refused to sign this treaty.

A senior Pentagon official said last month that cluster munitions would be useful for Ukraine to repel Russian forces, but said their delivery to Kyiv had not yet been approved because of congressional restrictions and allied concerns.

Ukraine launched cluster munitions on the Moscow-controlled Ukrainian city of Izyum last year after Russia invaded its territory, Human Rights Watch said, citing interviews with more than 100 residents, witnesses and emergency workers.

The UN and HRW accuse both Russia and Ukraine of using cluster munitions

Ukrainian attacks killed at least eight civilians and wounded fifteen in Izyum, HRW claims.

The organization has previously reported that Russia’s use of cluster munitions has killed dozens of civilians in Ukraine, while the UN Human Rights Council has documented the use of such bombs by both sides.

“Cluster munitions used by Russia and Ukraine are killing civilians now and will continue to do so for many years to come,” said Mary Warham, HRW’s arms director.

“Both sides must immediately end their use and acquisition of such weapons that kill indiscriminately,” she added.

The Ukrainian government called on members of the US Congress to put pressure on the US administration of Joe Biden to approve the supply of cluster bombs to Ukraine, Reuters notes.

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