Biden Administration to Provide Ukraine with Controversial Cluster Bombs as Part of Weapons Package

The Biden administration is expected to announce on Friday that the United States will provide Ukraine with a new weapons package that includes cluster bombs. Cluster bombs, also known as cluster munitions or DPICMs (dual-purpose improved conventional munitions), are surface-to-surface warheads that disperse multiple small bombs over a wide area.

Cluster bombs can be dropped from the air or fired from the ground or sea, and the dozens or hundreds of bomblets they release can disperse over a large area. This type of weapon was first used in World War II for the purpose of destroying multiple dispersed military targets or civilian areas.

The decision to provide Ukraine with cluster bombs has been met with controversy, as the weapons have been criticized for their potential to cause civilian casualties. The United Nations has called for a ban on the use of cluster bombs, and several countries have signed a treaty that prohibits the use of the weapons.

The Biden administration has not yet commented on the decision to provide Ukraine with cluster bombs, but it is expected to be part of a larger weapons package that will be announced on Friday. The package is intended to bolster Ukraine’s military in its fight against entrenched Russian forces.