Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning, stating that Russia possesses an ample supply of cluster munitions and would retaliate if Ukraine were to use them against Russian forces. The threat was made public through a televised clip released by Russian state television on Sunday.
While Putin claimed that Russia did not wish to utilize the internationally banned munitions, he asserted that they would take “congruent actions” if Ukraine were to employ them. Similar statements were made earlier by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Human rights activists have accused both Russian and Ukrainian forces of deploying cluster bombs in the conflict. However, Putin denied these allegations, although he acknowledged that there had been a temporary shortage of ammunition on the Russian side.
Putin further alleged that the United States had provided Ukraine with the controversial cluster munitions due to a lack of conventional weaponry available from the West.
Ukraine reportedly aims to accelerate its offensive to reclaim its territories in the east and south with the arrival of these cluster munitions. These bombs, designed to detonate above the ground, scatter projectiles over wider areas. Since many of them fail to explode immediately, they pose a threat to civilians even after the cessation of hostilities, similar to landmines.
While Germany and 110 other countries have banned cluster munitions through an international treaty, neither the United States, Ukraine, nor Russia have signed the agreement.
(With inputs from agencies)
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
