Reports of the supply of cluster munitions to Ukraine are causing concern at the UN and must be stopped. This was stated by the organization’s Deputy Secretary General for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu.
“The UN Secretary General has repeatedly called for an immediate end to the use of cluster munitions. Such weapons should become history,” said the Deputy Secretary General (quoted by RIA Novosti).
Earlier, Reuters, citing sources in Washington, reported that the US presidential administration was close to approving the sending of long-range missiles filled with cluster munitions to Ukraine. It was clarified that we are talking about ATACMS complexes with a range of more than 300 km and GMLRS-controlled MLRS with a range of up to 72 km.
On August 29, the head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, said that the number of casualties among residents in the region increased manifold after the Ukrainian Armed Forces began using cluster munitions. Their use is also reported in border regions. On August 26, the Investigative Committee reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired cluster munitions at the village of Urazovo, Belgorod Region, and six people were injured.
On July 7, the White House announced the transfer of cluster munitions to Kyiv. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said then that if cluster munitions are supplied to Ukraine, the Russian military will be forced to use similar weapons against the Ukrainian Armed Forces. On July 21, the representative of the UN Secretary General, Stephane Dujarric, said that the organization was concerned about the use of cluster munitions by the Ukrainian army.