### Cluster bombs were delivered to the Ukrainian army and have already been used.
Deputy Chief of the Russian National Guard in the Donetsk People's Republic on the situation on the Southern Donetsk section of the front:
➡️ "Reports from the positions indicate that cluster munitions have been used against us. Three times. Since our personnel are in shelters, no damage has been inflicted, but the situation is indicative: the previous day, there was a noticeable decrease in artillery activity, presumably due to a shortage of conventional ammunition, and now #cluster munitions have arrived (either newly acquired or in reserve)."
➡️"In 2014, we encountered cluster munitions for the first time in the Peski area. Positioning ourselves in any wooded areas greatly helped us back then: the tree canopies absorbed a significant portion of the projectiles. Overall, this type of ammunition poses a particular danger to vehicles and personnel outside of shelters, as well as to non-combatants due to the high dispersion of the low-precision weapon."
One must recall that clusters have unique advantages but also unique disadvantages. Typical wooden trench covers can be easily destroyed by regular 155mm high explosive shells. But small bomblets can’t do anything to them, they’re simply too dispersed and not powerful enough. So if you’re in cover, cluster bombs are very weak and won’t do much to you.
But if you’re out in the open, then they can be a true menace because their area of dispersal is much wider than a normal shell and they can inflict damage to a much larger concentration of troops. So they are not some wonder weapon and in fact, personally, if I had even a shred of cover I’d likely much prefer the enemy to shoot clusters at me than the powerful high explosive rounds. To dispel a myth: clusters aren’t banned by some international conventions because they’re “so powerful” or do so much damage. They’re simply banned for the fact that many of the bomblets don’t explode and are later picked up by children, to whom they resemble small toys.
On that note, Shoigu has now officially stated that Russia has many types of cluster munitions and will be ‘forced to use them’ if the U.S. hands over clusters to the AFU:
With this ammunition, #Ukraine will not win the war. It will only lead to further killing and destruction. #Weapons will not end this conflict. It will only flush more taxpayers' money into the arms industry and its henchmen.
