A high-ranking official of the Biden administration has expressed the expectation that the United States will provide Ukraine with cluster munitions.

Ukraine states that these weapons will help in a counteroffensive against Russian troops, as they will allow Ukrainian forces to effectively strike Russian fortified positions.

After months of resistance related to concerns about the use of the weapon and assertions that it was unnecessary, US officials have recently signaled a change in decision.

Laura Cooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian affairs, said: The Pentagon has decided that cluster munitions will be useful for Ukraine, “especially against entrenched Russian positions on the battlefield.”

Citing the sources of the US publication CBS News, the United States may decide this week whether to approve the supply of cluster munitions to Ukraine.

Biden is considering approving Ukraine’s long-standing request for cluster munitions to meet its high demand for counter-offensive munitions.

A single cluster munition typically scatters submunitions that can cover an area five times larger than conventional munitions, a US official said.

Cluster ammunition

The Convention on Cluster Munitions entered into force in 2010 and prohibits the use, production and stockpiling of cluster munitions in 123 states that are parties or signatories.

However, the United States, Russia and Ukraine did not sign the treaty.

In early March 2023, Ukraine asked the US for the supply of cluster munitions. The request included the Mk-20 Rockeye II cluster bomb.

The Mk-20 Rockeye II munition contains 247 Mk 118 sub-cells of 343 mm in length, 53 mm in diameter, and 600 grams in weight, as well as a 180 gram cumulative warhead capable of penetrating up to 190 mm of armor. Cluster munitions are designed to destroy infantry and light armored vehicles in open terrain. They break up into dozens of smaller charges that can remain on the battlefield for years if not detonated immediately.

As previously reported, in December of last year it became known that the Ukrainian military began to use a unique 120mm M971 cluster munition.