Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded to Ukraine receiving a shipment of cluster munitions from the United States by stating that Russia's military has a "sufficient stockpile" of these weapons.
In an interview on Sunday, Putin addressed the issue for the first time, emphasizing that Russia has not yet used these controversial weapons in the ongoing conflict. However, he warned that the country would "reserve the right to take reciprocal action" if Ukraine were to deploy cluster bombs on the battlefield. The Associated Press reported on Putin's remarks.
"We have not done this, we have not used it, and we have not had such a need," Putin stated during the interview.
The interview follows the Pentagon's confirmation on Thursday that a shipment of cluster munitions from the United States had arrived in Ukraine. The purpose of these munitions is to bolster the Ukrainian military's recent offensive.
Cluster bombs, which contain and disperse multiple smaller bomblets, have long been a subject of controversy among human rights groups. One of the main concerns is their high "dud rate," which means that unexploded ordnance can pose a threat to noncombatants long after the initial explosion.
According to The Associated Press, U.S. leaders debated for months whether to send these controversial munitions to Ukraine, with President Biden ultimately making the decision last week.
Despite Putin's claims, many observers believe that Russia has already used cluster munitions in Ukraine during the conflict. They argue that the weapons provided by the United States to Ukraine are of higher quality and have a lower rate of unexploded ordnance. In response, Ukraine has pledged to keep these bombs away from densely populated areas.
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