US CONFIRMS CLUSTER MUNITIONS ALREADY IN UKRAINE; PUTIN WARNS OF ESCALATION

Fri 14 July 2023:

The Pentagon announced on Thursday that Ukraine has received cluster bombs from the US and its allies to support its military counteroffensive against Russia, Anadolu Agency reported.

The US-supplied munitions, which were announced earlier this month as part of a $800 million arms package, are already in Ukraine, according to Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, despite is concerned about their lethal legacy on the battlefield long after hostilities concluded.

A 2008 treaty prohibiting the production, storage, use, and transfer of cluster bombs—which disperse a huge number of smaller bomblets that can kill indiscriminately over a large area—was signed by over 100 countries.

Sims said Ukrainian officials “acknowledge and understand the potential for duds that result, in this case, a very, very low dud rate.”

“We also know that the Russians have employed these weapons against in civilian communities, which is a significant difference from what the Ukrainians intend to do,” he told reporters. “Ukrainians intend to use cluster munitions in the tactical environment, against Russians, not against civilians.”

US President Joe Biden separately signed a new executive order opening the door to some 3,000 US military reservists being sent to bolster ongoing military activities in Europe that began in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Ryder maintained that the new forces should not be viewed as an addition to those already in theater, and are instead intended to “augment” the ongoing activities there

Putin: supply of weapons to Ukraine will escalate conflict

Russian president Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that supplies of new weapons to Ukraine would change nothing on the battlefield but would only further escalate the conflict there, Reuters reports.

Putin, speaking on state television, said tanks provided by western powers to Ukraine would be a “priority target” for Russian forces fighting there.

He reiterated his opposition to Ukraine joining Nato, saying this would threaten Russia’s security.

Allies pledge €1.5bn in military aid to Ukraine, says defence minister

Ukraine’s defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, said on Twitter that the country would receive €1.5bn in military aid from packages pledged by western allies.

He says they will receive long-range Scalp missiles, Leopard tanks, additional Patriots and F-16 pilot training.

🚀 Ukraine will receive over €1.5 billion in military aid from its international partners.

✳️ Long-range SCALP missiles, Leopard tanks, additional Patriots, F-16 pilot training are just some of the things that can be announced publicly.

We can mention at least seven packages…

— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) July 13, 2023