Russia releases evidence accusing Ukraine of throwing cluster munitions into its territory

The image is described as a cluster munition that Russia accused Ukraine of using to attack its territory (Photo: Tass).

Governor of Russia's Kursk region Roman Starovoit today, November 9, accused a Ukrainian drone of dropping cluster munitions on a factory in the region.

He also released a photo depicting a cluster munition being dropped, suspected to be of Western manufacture.

The attack occurred at a butter production facility in the town of Sudzha, less than 10km from the Ukrainian border. Starovoit governor said a total of three cluster munitions were dropped on the site.

The attack caused some damage but no casualties. One failed to explode and is being defused by the bomb disposal team. In some of the photos he shared, small submunitions can be seen inside and a piece of debris with the letters SH in yellow.

Ukraine has not commented on the accusations from Russia.

Cluster munitions are a type of weapon that can hit multiple targets at once. However, their submunitions also have a certain “dud” rate. Dud munitions can remain in the attacked area and endanger civilians for decades afterward.

(Graphic: Guardian).

The use of cluster munitions has been banned globally by more than 120 countries, but neither Russia, the United States nor Ukraine have banned the weapons.

In July, the US announced it would send cluster munitions to Ukraine. Several allies, including Germany, the UK and Canada, objected to Washington’s move because of the risks to civilians.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden said that this was an extremely difficult decision and had been carefully considered and consulted with allies. He supported the decision to provide cluster bombs to Ukraine because Kiev needed more ammunition to continue to repel Russia's military campaign.

In addition, the US said that Washington's provision of cluster bombs to Kiev was not to arm Ukraine to attack Russian territory, but to penetrate Moscow's defenses in a counterattack.

Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Colin Kahl said that Kiev had given Washington a written commitment that they "will not use cluster bombs in populated urban areas and that they will keep records of where they use the bombs. This will simplify future mine clearance efforts."

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu warned that if the US supplies cluster bombs to Ukraine, the Russian military will be forced to use adequate weapons to respond to Ukrainian forces. According to Mr. Shoigu, the Russian military has prepared measures to protect its forces from US cluster bombs in Ukraine.

"I would like to point out the fact that we also have cluster munitions in our inventory. Until now, for humanitarian reasons, we have not used them. However, we may reconsider this decision," Shoigu said at the Moscow International Security Conference in August.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/nga-tung-bang-chung-cao-buoc-ukraine-nem-dan-chum-vao-lanh-tho-20231109180649869.htm