Russia threatens to use cluster bombs in response to supplying them to Ukraine
Russian news agencies quoted Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying on Tuesday that if the United States supplied Ukraine with cluster bombs, Moscow would have to use “similar weapons,” while the deputy head of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, warned that “a third world war is approaching.” “.
Washington had announced about a week ago that it would provide Ukraine with cluster bombs, considering that this step, which constitutes an important step in the type of armament provided to Kiev to confront the Russian invasion, is the “right” thing to do.
US National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan said that the move is “a difficult decision, and we have postponed it” for a period of time, stressing that taking it at the present time is “the right thing.”
News agencies quoted Shoigu as saying that Russia possesses cluster munitions, but has so far refrained from using them in its military campaign.
But the United States earlier accused Russia of using cluster munitions in Ukraine, and said their failure rate was as high as 40 percent, leaving the ground full of unexploded bombs.
Washington says the failure rate of the cluster munitions it will send to Ukraine does not exceed 2.35 percent, claims refuted by the newspaper.The New York TimesAmerican, Saturday, noting that the failure rate rises to 14%, which means that it will represent a long-term threat that goes beyond the current war and its combat necessities.
“In the event that the United States supplies Ukraine with cluster munitions, the Russian armed forces will be forced to use similar weapons against the Ukrainian armed forces as a response,” Shoigu said on Tuesday. He added, “It should be noted that Russia has cluster munitions to use…in any case…they are much more effective than American munitions,” according to Reuters.
The Russian Defense Minister indicated that his country’s army “is taking the necessary measures to protect its forces from these weapons.”
Human Rights Watch says that Moscow and Kiev used cluster munitions during the 17-month-old conflict in Ukraine.
Neither the United States nor Russia nor Ukraine has signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
US officials say they agreed to Kiev’s request to obtain cluster bombs after it became clear that it was running out of regular artillery ammunition, and that production would not meet its needs. Ukraine is now launching a counterattack against Russia.
Close allies of the United States, including Britain, Canada and Germany, have expressed their refusal to use cluster munitions.
Medvedev: World War III is approaching
For his part, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, warned that “the Third World War is approaching,” stressing that Russia will respond to allegations about the bombing carried out by Ukraine with cluster munitions, according to the “Russia Today” news agency.
Medvedev wrote via “Telegram” that “all Western aid to the Kiev regime with various weapons, the latest of which is cluster munitions, has ended in a dead end,” adding that “the Third World War is approaching.”
He went on to say: “Note: It was reported that the city of Tokmak was bombed with cluster munitions. This means that it is time to reveal our arsenals of this inhumane weapon.”
Commenting on the results of the preliminary NATO summit, Tuesday, in Vilnius, Medvedev said that they are identical to Russia’s prior expectations, pointing out that the “special military operation” will continue with the same goals, and that the most important of those goals is to reject Kiev’s efforts to join the EU. NATO.
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2023-07-11 22:38:16
