US President Joe Biden authorized the delivery of antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine, a move aimed at bolstering Kyiv’s defenses against advancing Russian forces, reported The Washington Post, citing 2 US officials on November 20.
The land mines, described as “nonpersistent,” are designed to self-destruct or deactivate within days or weeks, reducing long-term risks to civilians.
Ukrainian officials have pledged not to deploy the mines in densely populated areas.
“Russia is attacking Ukrainian lines in the East with waves of troops, regardless of their casualties,” one US official explained. “These mines were made specifically to combat exactly this.”
The decision follows months of White House deliberations and comes in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s victory.
Ukrainian forces have faced mounting challenges in building defensive lines against relentless Russian assaults, and officials believe the mines could slow enemy advances and enable better-targeted artillery strikes.
Ukrainian official welcomed policy change despite the potential risks that would come with widespread deployment of the weapons.
“Russia uses them anyway,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
While neither the United States nor Russia is a signatory to the Ottawa Convention banning antipersonnel land mines, Biden had previously resisted providing such weapons due to humanitarian concerns.
Critics, including Human Rights Watch, have condemned the decision.
“It’s a shocking and devastating development,” said Mary Wareham, deputy director at Human Rights Watch, citing the risks and challenges posed by even self-deactivating mines.
Proponents argue that the weapons are a necessary response to Russia’s use of antipersonnel mines and relentless offensive tactics. Ukrainian officials, speaking anonymously, have welcomed the move, emphasizing the critical need to counter Russian advances.
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