Ukrainian forces are deploying cluster munitions from the U.S. “appropriately,” John Kirby, the National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications at the White House, said Thursday.
The United States’ controversial decision to send the bombs earlier this month, which was met with widespread criticism given the threat that they pose to civilians, has been defended by Kirby and other administration officials as a necessary step.
“They’re using them effectively and they are actually having an impact on Russia’s defensive formations and Russia’s defensive maneuvering,” Kirby told reporters. “I think I can leave it at that.”
The cluster bombs sent to Kyiv reportedly have a dud rate of less than 2.35%, meaning this percentage of bomblets won’t instantly explode and could remain a threat for years to come.
“Duds act like landmines and can injure civilians,” wrote Mark Cancian in a recent article for the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday warned that if cluster bombs are used against his forces, “we reserve the right to mirror actions.” Russia has, however, already deployed such munitions during its war with Ukraine, FOLLOW US ON GOOGLE NEWS