The US is preparing a new batch of cluster munitions for Ukraine

7 September, 2023 DPICM rounds of the US army, during exercises in South Korea. Photo credits: US Army The United States is preparing a new batch of cluster munitions for Ukraine.

The New York Times reported on this. Effective use of this type of munition requires timely and immediate transfer, U.S. officials said. The availability of cluster munitions boosted the morale of Ukrainian soldiers and ensured the effective destruction of enemy fortifications to break through the Russian defense.

It is not yet announced how many cluster munitions the United States has provided to Ukraine, but their effectiveness has already been confirmed in the Kupiansk sector, where the Ukrainian Defense Forces are destroying the enemy.

Artillery shells of the Ukrainian military. Photo credits: images.wsj.net

Besides, the transfer of these munitions is a challenge to the US government, which is facing opposition to such assistance. According to Ukrainian artillerymen, the ammunition is not used in urbanized areas but rather hits the enemy in the field.

In addition to artillery shells, the United States is considering the possible transfer of M26 cluster munitions, capable of being used with MLRS and HIMARS rocket systems. The Newsweek journalists spoke with Dan Rice, the Former Special Advisor to Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief. According to him, rocket shells with submunitions have a greater range of defeat than artillery shells.

They could help the Ukrainian army break through Russia's multilayered defense.

Soldiers of the 406th Artillery Brigade fire with an M777 howitzer. Photo credits: 406th Artillery Brigade

Militarnyi recently reported that the European Defense Agency signed the first agreements on the joint purchase of artillery ammunition for Ukraine's needs. The signing of the latest five contracts took place at the EDA headquarters in Brussels on September 5, during a visit of the European Union's Political and Security Committee ambassadors.

High Representative Josep Borrell, who is also Head of the European Defence Agency, shared: "Member States can now pass orders within eight framework contracts. Time is of the essence. Putin does not show any sign of letting up in his aggression against the Ukrainian people.

This is why our military support for Ukraine's defense must continue."