In contrast to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Zelenskyy has made several visits to front lines to congratulate service members and made a number of trips overseas to strengthen diplomatic relations. The former comedian has garnered worldwide praise for his leadership during the conflict. Some may forget that the Ukrainian president - who has already led his country through nearly a year and a half of war - was only elected in 2019. The UN has reported that in the aftermath, children were killed or maimed long after the munitions were originally deployed.Ī sombre milestone has been reached for Ukrainians, with today marking 500 days of the invasion by Russia.Īs Ukraine continues to fight against Russian aggression, Moscow is continuing what it views as its "special military operation" in the country.Īfter nearly a year and a half of conflict, we've heard a lot from five of the war's key players. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen was criticised for its use of the weapons in the war against Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Syrian government troops have also used cluster munitions supplied by Russia during the country's civil war, while Israel used them in civilian areas in south Lebanon. The US-led coalition is thought to have dropped more than 1,500 cluster bombs in Afghanistan during the first three years of the invasion that began in 2001, according to Human Rights Watch. The bombs have also been deployed in other recent conflicts - including where US forces have ben involved. Hundreds of such attacks by Russian forces have been documented, reported or alleged since the start of the war, the Cluster Munition Coalition has said. More than 100 countries have signed a treaty banning the weapons, but Russia, Ukraine and the US are not signatories.īoth Russia and Ukraine have been using the munitions during the war - although Moscow has used them more heavily. In particular, they pose a risk to children as the bomblets can look like a small toy left in a residential or farmland area and they are often picked up out of curiosity. It means they can pose a danger for decades, exploding when being picked up or trodden on. They are meant to explode on impact, but a significant proportion fail to do so. Here's why.Ĭluster munitions typically release large numbers of tiny bomblets that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area. Ukraine has promised it will not use the weapons in Russia, and that they will be used to liberate Ukrainian territory.īut concerns remain over the use of the widely banned bombs.
Controversially, the US has agreed to send cluster munitions to Ukraine to help with Kyiv's counteroffensive.
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