Disputes in the US and supplies from third countries: cluster munitions for Ukraine
American bombs Mk 20 - the current desire of the Kyiv regime. Photo by the US Department of Defense
As early as last year, the Kiev regime began to beg the US for various kinds of cluster munitions, which supposedly could help it on the fronts. However, over the past months, he has not received a clear answer from official Washington. The American leadership has not yet approved the transfer of cluster munitions, but has not ruled it out either. As a result, this topic is still controversial at various levels.
Requests unanswered
Even last year, representatives of the Kyiv regime started talking about the need to obtain foreign cluster munitions. However, at that time they asked foreign partners for any ammunition and weapons on the principle of “everything and more” - in the hope that they would fulfill at least part of the requests.
Later, the Kyiv regime had a new characteristic idea. The United States began to demand cluster bombs of one of the mass types. At the same time, due to the loss of aircraft, it was proposed to use them not as aviation means of destruction, but as a source of combat elements. The latter wanted to be used from light UAVs. However, this idea has not yet been implemented due to the lack of supplies.
As it became known later, in February 2023, Kyiv asked US congressmen to put pressure on the White House and facilitate the transfer of cluster munitions. Then a group of US lawmakers turned to President George Biden and demanded that the current restrictions on the export of such weapons be lifted and sent to Ukraine.
M438A1 DPICM cluster projectile in Ukraine, April-May 2023. Photo by Telegram / BMPD
Proponents of such assistance believe that the provision of cluster munitions will increase the combat capabilities of Ukrainian formations and allow them to more effectively fight the Russian army. At the same time, this position is subject to criticism, incl. at the congressional level. Legislators fear that the emergence of cluster munitions in Ukraine will lead to new military and political risks.
New disputes
One way or another, the decision to send American cluster bombs or other weapons to Ukraine has not yet been made. The White House and the Pentagon do not agree, but do not refuse such assistance. Therefore, supporters and opponents of this idea are still arguing and trying to convince the country's leadership that they are right.
One advocate for the transfer of cluster munitions is Adam Smith of the Democratic Party, who has a seat on the House Armed Services Committee. In May, he once again raised this topic and gave interviews to several publications. In them, he cited long-standing and well-known arguments.
First of all, cluster munitions are proposed to be sent to Ukraine for the reason that the United States has their stocks. However, they can supplement other ammunition, the supply of which is insufficient. Due to such deliveries, it is proposed to bring all deliveries as a whole to the required level. This will increase the potential of the Ukrainian formations, and, as they say, will contribute to the speedy end of hostilities.
M438A1 and its design. Globalsecurity.org graphics
However, there is and is being promoted an alternative view. So, on June 14, almost four dozen American and international public, human rights and religious organizations published an open letter to J. Biden. The signatories appreciate the fact that the White House has not yet authorized the delivery of cluster munitions. He is also urged not to do this in the future - despite the demands of congressmen, the Kyiv regime, etc.
The authors of the open letter are guided, first of all, by considerations of humanism. Cluster munitions are indiscriminate and threaten civilians and infrastructure. They also recall the "international consensus" on the issue of banning such weapons.
However, despite the positive message, the letter was written in full accordance with the American agenda. Therefore, it cites only fictitious “war crimes” of the Russian army as negative examples. So, once again, our country is accused of attacking the railway station in Kramatorsk in April 2022, although it is known that it was the Kyiv formations that staged it.
From third countries
The United States over the past few months has not succumbed to the requests of the Kyiv regime and has not transferred ammunition with cluster equipment to it. By this, they demonstrate their intention to comply with their own legislation that imposes restrictions on exports. In addition, the White House is demonstrating humanism and speaks of its unwillingness to contribute to the escalation of the conflict.
However, Ukrainian formations still do not remain without cluster munitions. They still have at their disposal some stocks of similar products of the old Soviet production. In addition, it is now known about the supply of various shells by third countries. Even without the direct participation of the United States, they covered part of the needs of the Kyiv regime.
BONUS projectile submunition. Photo Telegram / Dambiev
For example, last summer and autumn, foreign states transferred MLRS / HIMARS family MLRS to Ukraine. In particular, Germany, in order to help, allocated several MARS 2 combat vehicles and ammunition for them. Among the latter were missiles with AT2 / DM1399 anti-tank mines. It is curious that such missiles are not formally considered cluster missiles due to the design features and the specifics of existing international agreements.
Winter 2022-23 The foreign press reported that Turkey is supplying Ukraine with 155-mm artillery shells of the DPICM family with cluster equipment in the form of small cumulative fragmentation elements. More precise information and evidence of such shipments was not available for several months. Only in mid-May did photos of M483A1 DPICM shells appear in Ukraine. How exactly they fell into the hands of the Kyiv regime is still unknown.
Also at the beginning of the year it became known that the Ukrainian artillery uses 155-mm BONUS shells of Swedish-French production. The possible supply of such products was previously reported. Each projectile of this type carries two self-aiming combat elements to combat armored vehicles.
In the spring, evidence appeared of the presence in Ukraine of M971 DPICM mortar mines manufactured by the Israeli company IMI. Such ammunition has a caliber of 120 mm and carries from 24 to 32 M85 or M87 fragmentation submunitions, respectively. The supply of such mines has not been officially announced, and their source is still unknown.
Ukrainian mortars and mine M971. Photo Telegram / BMPD
Different interests
In the current situation, the future of the Kyiv regime directly depends on foreign aid, incl. supplies of foreign weapons, equipment and ammunition. The Ukrainian leadership is well aware of this and therefore seeks to obtain any available weapons, equipment and ammunition. In particular, for a long time they have been trying to beg various types of cluster munitions from key partners.
First of all, such requests are directed to the United States, but they refrain from starting deliveries, although they do not refuse directly. At the same time, other NATO states provide such weapon, although we are talking about a limited range and, probably, about small batches. In addition, only products that are not formally cluster munitions are supplied.
Thus, foreign partners still supply the Kyiv regime with rockets and shells with cluster equipment, but such assistance has its own specifics. The range of such supplies, their volume and rates are determined exclusively by foreign supplier countries, taking into account their capabilities and legal aspects. The opinion and wishes of the Ukrainian formations are essentially ignored.
This situation has persisted over the past few months, and there are no noticeable changes. It is likely that this approach to the topic of cluster munitions will continue in the future. Limited supplies of certain types of products are quite suitable for foreign patrons of Kyiv and are in line with their plans to confront Russia. At the same time, all disputes, publications in the press and open letters will remain practically meaningless background for real decisions at a higher level.
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