Putin said Russia has “sufficient stockpiles” of cluster bombs

After the controversy that aroused the sending of cluster bombs, banned by more than 110 countries, from the United States to Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the action and assured that his army has “sufficient reserves” of weapons to respond to the attacks. The Ukrainian military has not yet used the controversial cluster bombs, which were banned in an agreement ratified by 110 countries in the Oslo Convention in 2008. However, the various reactions were not long in coming, and together with the rejection of Spain, Britain and Canada, Putin’s words had their turn. All the enemy’s attempts to break through our defenses… They have not succeeded in the whole offensive,” the president began in an interview with state broadcaster. “Our troops are acting heroically. And unexpectedly for the adversary, they are even going on the offensive in certain sectors and capturing more advantageous positions,” he said. He also said they possess “sufficient stockpiles” of cluster bombs to strike back, and reserve the right to use them if Ukraine does so first. “Of course, if cluster bombs are used against us, we reserve the right to take reciprocal action,” he said. Finally, he questioned the U.S. management of the shipment and quoted words from Washington officials regarding the weapons. “As for cluster munitions, the US administration itself made an assessment of them some time ago through its employees, when it called their use a crime. This is how I think it should be seen,” Putin added.Despite the Russian president’s warning, cluster bombs are not new to the war since, during the first month of the conflict, Russian militias used them in more than 40 attacks, according to UN reports. 

Original source in Spanish