The Biden administration will be providing Ukraine with cluster munitions, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The announcement is expected Friday.
According to the AP, the mutations will be sent in the thousands as part of a new aid package for Ukraine’s effort against Russia.
According to the outlet, U.S. officials said Thursday that the cluster munitions would be part of about $800 million in new military assistance to Ukraine.
In the news: U.S. Embassy Choir Sang ‘Soulful Rendition’ Of Chinese National Anthem At 4th July Event In Beijing
Cluster munitions are weapons that release or eject smaller submunitions over a wide area. They are designed to kill personnel and destroy vehicles, but they pose a significant risk to civilians as well.
Cluster munitions work by releasing a large number of submunitions, or bomblets, from a single container. The bomblets are typically dispersed over an area of several football fields, and they can be armed with a variety of different warheads, including anti-personnel, anti-tank, and incendiary.
When a cluster munition is released, the bomblets are dispersed by either a parachute or a spinning disc. The bomblets are designed to explode on impact, but a significant number of them often fail to detonate. These unexploded bomblets can pose a deadly hazard to civilians long after the conflict has ended.
In the news: Rep. Matt Gaetz Says US Military ‘Chief Diversity Officer’ Should Go To The Front Lines In Ukraine
Cluster munitions are controversial because of their indiscriminate nature. They can kill or injure civilians who are not directly involved in the conflict, and they can also leave behind a dangerous legacy of unexploded bomblets.
The use of cluster munitions is prohibited by the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which was adopted in 2008. However, not all countries have ratified the Convention, and cluster munitions are still used in some conflicts.
The United States, Russia, and Ukraine are among the countries that have not signed on.
Android Users, Click To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Signup for our free newsletter.
We can’t do this without your help; visit our GiveSendGo page and donate any dollar amount; every penny helps.