The cluster munitions supplied by the US will be used purely to “clear” the territory from concentrated Russian defensive positions, Valery Shershen, the spokesman for the Tavria operational-strategic group, told Radio Europa Liberă.

Unexploded cluster bombs during the ongoing military conflict between Armenia and AzerbaijanPhoto: ARIS MESSINIS/ AFP/ Profimedia Images

He added that the disputed missiles will not be used in cities, densely populated areas or on the territory of Russia.

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.

“I can radically change combat camouflage”

“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.

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.