The decision of the Biden administration to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine has raised concerns that the controversial bombs can increase civilian casualties.
The use of cluster bombs in the Russia-Ukraine war has raised concerns due to the potential for indiscriminate harm and civilian casualties. However, Kyiv has been pushing for cluster bombs, arguing that the weapons would help in its counteroffensive by allowing its troops to target entrenched Russian positions and overcome its disadvantage in manpower and artillery.
Human rights groups have called for a halt in their use and adherence to international treaties prohibiting these weapons.
Here is an explainer on the use of cluster bombs:
What are cluster bombs?
Cluster bombs, also known as cluster munitions, are weapons that contain multiple explosive submunitions or "bomblets." These munitions are designed to disperse over a wide area, often the size of several football fields, upon deployment.
How are cluster bombs used?
Cluster bombs can be delivered through various means, including aircraft, artillery, and missiles. They are typically deployed from the air or fired from the ground or sea. Once released, the cluster bomb opens in mid-air, releasing numerous submunitions that scatter and explode upon impact.
Each submunition is equipped with a fuse that is activated upon impact with the ground or in proximity to a target. The fuses are designed to detonate the submunition, causing an explosion and damaging or destroying the intended target.
Once the cluster bomb opens, it releases multiple submunitions or bomblets. These submunitions are smaller explosive devices designed to cover a wide area. They disperse over the target area, which can be as large as several football fields, depending on the specific cluster bomb type.
However, cluster bombs often have a high failure rate, meaning that a significant number of submunitions do not detonate as intended upon impact. These unexploded submunitions, also known as duds, can remain on the ground, posing a threat to civilians long after the conflict has ended.
The duds can be triggered by unsuspecting individuals, including civilians, leading to unintended casualties and injuries. Clearing unexploded cluster bomb remnants from the affected areas is a complex and hazardous task performed by specialized teams to mitigate the risk to civilians.
Why are they controversial?
Cluster bombs have drawn widespread criticism due to their inherent risks and indiscriminate nature. The large number of submunitions dispersed by a single cluster bomb increases the likelihood of civilian casualties, as anyone within the strike area is at risk of being killed or seriously injured. Furthermore, many submunitions fail to explode upon impact, leaving behind unexploded ordnance that continues to pose a threat to civilians long after the conflict ends.
The use of cluster bombs has prompted calls from human rights organizations to cease their use and for countries involved in the conflict to refrain from supplying these weapons. More than 120 countries have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions. However, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have not signed the treaty.
Human rights groups have condemned the use of these weapons in populated areas, as it violates international humanitarian law and increases the risk of civilian casualties. The indiscriminate nature of cluster bombs makes them particularly dangerous in urban settings where non-combatants, including children, may be exposed to the risk of injury or death.
Unexploded bomblets from cluster munitions pose long-term risks to civilians, even after the conflict has ended. These remnants can remain hidden in the environment and explode when disturbed, leading to further casualties. The clearance of unexploded ordnance is a challenging and time-consuming process.
