Western allies are expressing concern over the US decision on cluster munitions, even as Kiev promises not to use those munitions on Russian territory. And that promise is easy enough to fulfill, thinks defense specialist Peter Wijninga of the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague. “Kiev has even come up with a set of rules for the use of such ammunition,” Wijninga explains. “For example, it cannot be used in built-up areas and only against Russian troop concentrations.”
“Cluster munitions cannot be used in built-up areas”
In addition, there will be logging of ammo usage, which means how much ammo is fired and where the ammo is used will be recorded. “In this way, the eviction can take place as quickly as possible in the event of a cessation of hostilities,” he says.
Great importance
Wijninga believes that cluster munitions will be of great importance for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Especially since it is particularly suitable for combating concentrations of equipment and people. “And that means if you use it, you can take out bigger groups of Russian soldiers and equipment,” he continues. “And this is their main goal at the moment: they are trying to wear out the Russian army as much as possible and weaken it so that a breakthrough is possible somewhere.”
According to Wijninga, Ukraine is doing it very carefully, and therefore things are going slower than Zelensky and his colleagues want. “But actually you could say they use a tactic, but also accept it,” Wijninga says.
effectiveness
Slow but steady seems to be the mantra in this one, because while the onslaught is slow, it has the desired effect. According to the Bloomberg news agency, Russia has fewer and fewer heavy weapons, while Ukraine is buying more and more weapons. Even if that doesn’t mean anything, Wijninga thinks.
Instead, he argues it must be the Ukrainians’ “military ingenuity” that “determines whether they will be dominant in certain places,” he says. “This is the most important. And of course better equipment and weapon systems help with that. But they won’t be decisive – that’s reserved for Ukrainian strategy.’