Ukraine has received cluster munitions from the United States as its forces attempt to continue a counteroffensive, a Ukrainian commander told CNN.
A Ukrainian general confirmed to CNN on Thursday that Ukraine received the controversial cluster munitions from the US after President Joe Biden said last week that he had made a “difficult decision” to approve their transfer to Ukraine.
“We just received them, we haven’t used them yet, but they can dramatically change (the battlefield),” Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of Joint Forces Operation Tavria, told CNN on Thursday.
“The adversary also understands that we will have an advantage if we get these ammunitions. The enemy will leave the territory where it can be used,” he said.
There is no official announcement
The arrival of American weapons in Ukraine was not officially announced, reports CNN.
Senior management will decide “where it can be applied,” Tarnavskyi said, adding that “this is a very powerful weapon.”
Tarnavskyi emphasized the restrictions on the use of this type of ammunition, saying that their use is prohibited in densely populated areas, even if they are occupied by Russian troops.
The US said it had received written assurances from Ukraine that they would not be used in civilian areas and that their use would be monitored for possible demining operations.
“They are worried”
“The Russians think that we will use them on all areas of the front,” he added. “This is very wrong. But they are very worried.”
The US has said that the decision to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions is related to a reduction in Kiev’s supply of standard artillery ammunition, and when production meets Ukraine’s needs again, supplies will be stopped.
This type of weapon is banned in more than 100 countries because the bombs they scatter fall over a large area and pose a danger to the civilian population.
However, Russia used these munitions during the invasion of Ukraine.
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Source: Hot News
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