Kremlin: deliveries of cluster munitions to Ukraine force countermeasures

If Ukraine uses cluster munitions, Russia will be forced to take countermeasures. This statement was made by the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov.

“Of course, the possible use of this type of ammunition changes the situation and, of course, forces Russia to take countermeasures. What kind of countermeasures is the exclusive prerogative of the Ministry of Defense [России]”, – he said.

Last week, July 7, the White House announced on the transfer of cluster munitions to Kyiv. Washington acknowledged the danger of such weapons to the civilian population, noting that Ukraine provided the United States with written guarantees that the ammunition would be used “with caution.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry considered such a step a “gesture of desperation”, and the acting head of the DPR Denis Pushilin emphasizedthat the transfer of cluster munitions will not affect the course of the special operation. Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko named a war crime the decision to supply such type of weapons. According to her, the West is not interested in a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, but in further escalation.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu declaredthat in the case of deliveries of cluster munitions to Ukraine, the Russian military will be forced to use similar weapons against the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The minister explained Washington’s decision to supply cluster munitions by the shortage of 155-caliber shells in the United States. According to him, Russia is armed with the entire range of cluster munitions and they are much more effective than the American ones.

The day before, July 11, TASS and RIA Novosti, citing operational services reported about the shelling of the Armed Forces of Tokmak in the Zaporozhye region with cluster munitions. Commenting on media publications, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev urged “uncover our arsenals of these inhumane weapons.”