According to two senior U.S. officials, there are indications that the United States is leaning towards supplying cluster munitions to Ukraine, and an official announcement could be made as early as next month.

Another U.S. official stated that the possibility of providing dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICMs) to Ukraine is being considered, but no specific timeline for an announcement was given.

DPICMs are warheads designed to explode and disperse numerous small munitions or bombs over wide areas, resulting in more extensive destruction compared to single rounds, NBC News reported.

These rounds can be shaped charges intended to penetrate armored vehicles, or they can break apart into fragments, posing a greater threat to personnel and causing more fatalities.

The use of cluster munitions has faced opposition from human rights groups due to the risks posed by unexploded bomblets, or duds, which can detonate after the battle, posing a threat to innocent civilians by causing injury or death.

Ukraine has been requesting DPICMs from the United States since last year. However, the proposal has encountered resistance due to the existence of an international treaty known as the Convention on Cluster Munitions. This treaty prohibits the transfer, use, and stockpiling of such weapons.

While the United States, Ukraine, and Russia are not signatories to the treaty, it is worth noting that more than 100 countries, including numerous U.S. allies, have ratified and uphold the provisions of the convention.

Written by staff