Ukraine receives cluster munitions from U.S., vows limited use amid concern
Global News
The Pentagon and Ukrainian military commanders confirmed the weapons had arrived a week after the United States said it would send them as part of an $800-million security package.
Ukraine has received cluster bombs from the United States, munitions banned in more than 100 countries, but has pledged to only use them to dislodge concentrations of enemy soldiers.
Valeryi Shershen, a spokesman for the Tavria, or southern, military district on Thursday confirmed an announcement by his commander that the weapons had arrived a week after the United States said it would send them as part of an $800-million security package.
The Pentagon also announced their arrival.
Moscow has denounced their shipment. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu warned on Thursday that Russia could resort to deploying similar weaponry if faced with their use.
Ukrainian officials say their deployment is justified in view of Russia’s mining of vast tracts of land it has seized.
Ukraine has launched a counter offensive more than 500 days into the war, focusing on capturing groups of villages in the southeast and retaking areas around the eastern city of Bakhmut, seized by Russian forces in May after months of fighting.
“This will further demotivate Russian occupying forces and fundamentally change things in favour of the Ukrainian armed forces,” Shershen told U.S.-funded Radio Liberty.
The munitions, he said, would be used strictly within the legal framework, “only for the de-occupation of our territories.