Aakanksha Jetley, Pune
The UN’s top disarmament official, Izumi Nakamitsu, states that the past few months have witnessed a rapid rise in arms and ammunition transfers to Ukraine, accompanied by alarming reports of banned cluster munition deliveries. Speaking at a Security Council meeting on August 17, Nakamitsu highlighted the dangers posed by the influx of weaponry in ongoing conflicts, citing the potential for escalation and post-conflict diversion.
According to a UN report, governments have reportedly provided Kyiv with a variety of heavy weaponry, including battle tanks, combat planes, missile systems, and more. The stockpile also includes remote-controlled munitions, small arms, light weapons, and ammunition. The recent developments highlight the rising war in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
With civilian casualties on the rise, the humanitarian toll continues to increase. Over 26,000 civilian casualties were recorded between February 24, 2022, and August 13, 2023, with actual figures thought to be higher. Nakamitsu strongly condemned attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure and demanded that they stop immediately.
American journalist Danny Haiphong, reiterated Nakamitsu’s worries, slamming NATO countries for providing nearly $40 billion arms to Ukraine. According to Haiphong, these weapons have become more lethal and provocative, hindering hopes for a diplomatic settlement. He said that some of these weapons had made their way to black markets, criminal organizations, and radical elements within the Ukrainian military.
Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative, accused Western nations of using Ukraine as a “testing ground” for weapons, including those with depleted uranium and cluster munitions. He said that elevated radiation levels were observed as a result of armaments supplied by London and Washington. Polyanskiy also emphasized the misery caused by the battle, such as the deaths of Ukrainian soldiers and the destruction of Western armament.
Ukraine’s Counselor Serhii Dvornyk , described the current fighting as an “existential battle for survival.” He emphasized Ukraine’s resolve to persist and maintain its statehood. Dvornyk stressed the significance of military loss and responsibility, compared Russia’s activities to Nazi aggression, and voiced hope for a similar outcome.
International worries about the possibility of additional escalation, proliferation, and civilian losses have been heightened by the increasing arms supplies to Ukraine. To end the crisis and stop additional instability in the region, it is essential to continue calling for adherence to international conventions and norms as well as addressing the dangers of weapon misuse and diversion.
Keywords: Arms transfers, Ukraine, cluster munitions, UN disarmament official, Security Council, escalation, proliferation, heavy weaponry, conflict, Russia’s invasion, humanitarian toll, civilian casualties, NATO, weapons supply, black market, extremist elements, depleted uranium, sovereignty, accountability.