Are Ukraine’s Forbidden Bombs Making a Comeback?
The ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia has reached a critical point, as the Ukrainian army faces a severe shortage of artillery shells. Unable to match the Russian firepower, Ukraine has turned to the US for help. But the US has not offered conventional weapons. Instead, it has agreed to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions, a type of weapon that has been widely condemned and banned by more than 100 countries.
What are cluster munitions?
Cluster munitions are large weapons that contain dozens or hundreds of smaller weapons known as submunitions or bomblets. Cluster munitions are dropped from aircraft or fired from the ground or sea, opening up in mid-air to release the submunitions over a wide area. They are intended to explode on impact, but a significant proportion of them fail to do so, leaving behind unexploded ordnance that can kill or injure civilians for years after the attack.
Cluster munitions are designed to target enemy troops, vehicles, or infrastructure, but they often have indiscriminate and long-lasting effects on civilians and the environment. According to the Cluster Munition Coalition, a global network of civil society organizations, cluster munitions have caused over 55,000 casualties since 1965, most of them civilians. Children are particularly vulnerable, as they may mistake the colorful bomblets for toys or food.
Why are cluster munitions banned?
In 2008, after years of campaigning by humanitarian and human rights groups, a landmark treaty was adopted in Dublin, Ireland, to prohibit the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions. The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) also requires states to destroy their existing stockpiles, clear contaminated areas, assist victims, and promote the universalization of the treaty. The CCM entered into force in 2010 and has been ratified by 111 states and signed by 12 more.
The CCM was inspired by the 1997 Ottawa Treaty, which banned anti-personnel landmines, another weapon that poses a serious threat to civilians. Both treaties are based on the principle of humanitarian disarmament, which seeks to prevent and reduce human suffering caused by certain weapons. The CCM is widely regarded as a success story of international law and civil society activism, as it has created a strong norm against cluster munitions and has led to significant progress in stockpile destruction, clearance, and victim assistance.
Why is the US sending cluster munitions to Ukraine?
The US is one of the few countries that has not joined the CCM, along with Russia, China, India, Pakistan, and Israel. The US argues that cluster munitions have a legitimate military purpose and that it has taken steps to reduce the failure rate and civilian harm of its weapons. The US has also criticized Russia for its extensive use of cluster munitions in Syria and Ukraine, where it has reportedly caused hundreds of casualties.
However, in a surprising move, the US has announced that it will comply with a Ukrainian request to supply it with cluster munitions, despite the international outcry. The US says that it is providing Ukraine with a specific type of cluster munition, the BLU-108, which has a low failure rate and a self-destruct mechanism. The US claims that this weapon is not prohibited by the CCM and that it will help Ukraine break through the Russian defensive lines.
Ukraine’s defense minister has given assurances that the cluster munitions will not be used in urban areas and only to target military objectives. However, many experts and activists have questioned the legality, morality, and effectiveness of this decision. They warn that cluster munitions are inherently unreliable and inaccurate, and that they will likely cause more harm than good. They also fear that the US move will undermine the CCM and encourage other countries to use or acquire cluster munitions.
What is the future of cluster munitions?
The US decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine has sparked a heated debate and a renewed call for action. Many countries, organizations, and individuals have expressed their concern and condemnation, and have urged the US and Ukraine to respect the CCM and refrain from using cluster munitions. They have also called on other states to join the CCM and to support its implementation and universalization.
