[News Terms] US Cluster Munitions 'ATACMS' Used by Ukrainian Military

The United States has been revealed to have provided the Army tactical surface-to-surface missile 'ATACMS' to Ukraine. The ATACMS missile was developed by the American defense contractor Lockheed Martin and has a maximum range of 300 km. The ATACMS supplied to Ukraine by the United States has a shorter range than this but is equipped with cluster munitions, which are considered inhumane weapons of mass destruction, likely sparking controversy in the international community.

According to AP News and The New York Times (NYT), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in his regular speech on the 17th (local time) that "the ATACMS missiles delivered by the United States to Ukraine are being used in actual combat on the battlefield against Russia." He released footage of the ATACMS launch and stated that the recent attack damaged a Russian air force runway and destroyed nine helicopters, an ammunition depot, anti-aircraft missile launchers, and numerous other military equipment.

A-10C missile launch scene. [Photo by Lockheed Martin website]

Ukraine had persistently requested ATACMS support from the United States due to its disadvantage in long-range weaponry. However, the U.S. government had refused to provide support, citing concerns that if Ukraine attacked Russian territory, a provoked Russia would be more likely to use strategic nuclear weapons.

However, after President Zelensky visited the United States on the 21st of last month and held talks with President Joe Biden, he secured a promise of ATACMS support. Accordingly, the United States provided Ukraine with a variant of the ATACMS missile with a shorter maximum range of 160 km, under the condition that it must not be used to attack Russian territory.

However, this variant is equipped with cluster munitions. Cluster munitions are a type of bomb containing hundreds of smaller 'submunitions' inside a single bomb; when the main bomb is dropped, the submunitions scatter in the air and explode over a wide area. While highly effective in striking targets, they pose a high risk of civilian casualties and have been banned internationally by treaties. Unexploded submunitions can remain buried like landmines and detonate years later, causing widespread civilian harm. It is reported that the ATACMS provided to Ukraine this time contains 950 submunitions per bomb.

This is the second time the Biden administration has supplied cluster munitions to Ukraine, following the 155mm artillery shells (each containing 72 submunitions) provided in July. The U.S. government has stated that, considering international concerns, it will avoid the use of cluster munitions in civilian areas and supply those with a low probability of unexploded ordnance to Ukraine.

Russia immediately reacted with strong opposition. Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to the United States, warned, "The White House's decision to send long-range missiles to Ukraine is a serious mistake," adding, "There will be consequences for this action."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.