Reuters: Biden Administration close to approving cluster munitions for Ukraine.

The Biden Administration is close to authorizing the shipment of longer-range missiles packed with cluster bombs to Ukraine, Reuters reported[1] on Sept.

11. Citing unnamed US officials, the new missiles would allow Ukrainian forces to inflict significant damage deeper within Russian-occupied territory. The US previously sent[2] cluster munitions inside 155 mm artillery rounds.

After the success of these munitions, the Biden administration decided to consider sending either or both Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) that can fly up to 190 miles (306 km), or Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles with a 45-mile range packed with cluster bombs. ATACMS are designed for deep territory targets and could attack command and control centers as well as air defenses and logistics sites deep within Russian territory. The Biden Administration has struggled with decision to send ATACMS as it could be perceived, due to the longer-range target capabilities of the missiles, as an unnecessary escalation with Russia.

Despite this, Kyiv has consistently asked the US to help attack Russian supply lines, air bases, and rail networks in Russian occupied territory.   The 155 mm artillery rounds Ukraine currently deploys have a maximum range of 18 miles, carrying up to 48 bomblets. The new ATACMS could propel up to 300 or more bomblets while the GMLRS rocket system would disperse up to 404 cluster munitions.

According to one of the sources cited in the Reuters report, American officials believe that ATACMS and GMLRS could make a critical defense for Ukrainian forces currently attempting to push through Russian front lines "just south of the city of Orikhiv in an attempt to divide Russian forces and put its main supply lines under threat." It is not yet certain whether President Biden will decide to send the weapons.  

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine regains control of drilling rigs in Black Sea Key developments on Sept.

11: * Military intelligence: Ukraine regains control of drilling rigs in Black Sea * Defense Ministry: Ukraine retakes nearly 5 square kilometers on southern front over past week * UK Defense Ministry: Russia wants to recruit 420,000 contract soldiers in 2023 * Rheinme...

News Editor

Rachel Amran is a news reporter at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked on the Europe and Central Asia team of Human Rights Watch investigating war crimes in Ukraine. Rachel holds a master's degree in Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian Regional Studies from Columbia University.

References

1. ^ reported (www.reuters.com)
2. ^ sent (kyivindependent.com)
3. ^ Ukraine war latest: Ukraine regains control of drilling rigs in Black SeaKey developments on Sept.

   11: * Military intelligence: Ukraine regains control of drilling rigs in Black Sea * Defense Ministry: Ukraine retakes nearly 5 square kilometers on southern front over past week * UK Defense Ministry: Russia wants to recruit 420,000 contract soldiers in 2023 * Rheinme... (kyivindependent.com)