THE US will send controversial cluster bombs to Ukraine to assist the fightback against Russia.
The munitions are banned in more than 100 countries as unexploded “bomblets” can linger on the ground — detonating years later on civilians.
The White House had held off sending them to Kyiv over fears of harming the innocent.
But US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan now says they are “necessary” owing to Russia’s use of the weapons.
He added: “Ukraine would not be using these munitions in some foreign land.
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"This is their country they’re defending.”untry they’re defending.”
Human rights groups urged Ukraine not to use the cluster bombs and the US not to supply them.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said: “Cluster munitions scatter small bomblets over a wide area, many of which fail to explode immediately.
“They can kill and maim years later.
"That’s why use should stop immediately.”