Russian war of aggression
UN against use of cluster munitions in Ukraine
Ukrainian soldiers fire a cannon near Marjinka in the east of the country. Cluster munitions could be added in the future. photo
© LIBKOS/AP/dpa
“Such munitions kill and maim people long after a conflict is over”: The UN human rights office has expressed concern over reports that the US is planning to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine.
The UN Human Rights Office in Geneva has responded to reports of the possible delivery of Cluster munitions from the US to Ukraine responded.
“Such ammunition kills and maims people long after a conflict has ended,” said a spokeswoman in Geneva. “Therefore, the operation should be stopped immediately.” The Office called on Russia and Ukraine to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the use, production and transfer of certain types of conventional cluster munitions. More than 100 states have signed it. Germany is there, the USA is not.
US media reported on Thursday, citing unnamed government sources, that the deliveries were planned. The Pentagon did not want to confirm this at first. “I would like to note that the Russians have already used cluster munitions on the battlefield,” said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder. According to CNN, the plans could be announced today. The White House had previously said it was examining the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine, which had been attacked by Russia.
Cluster munitions are rockets and bombs that burst in the air over the target and scatter or release many small explosive devices – so-called submunitions. However, many of these explosive devices do not detonate immediately, but remain unexploded and endanger the population even years after the conflict.
“We would carefully select bullets with a lower dud rate for which we have current test data,” Ryder said.