- Category
- Latest news
Finland to Reintroduce Anti-Personnel Mines After Ottawa Treaty Withdrawal in 2026
- Authors
![Photo of Roman Kohanets]( "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
Finland will reintroduce the use of anti-personnel landmines from January 10, 2026, following its formal withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty, which prohibits such weapons, according to Yle on August 26.
Colonel Riku Mikkonen, inspector of Finland’s engineer troops, confirmed the move: “From January next year we will begin preparing a plan for the swiftest possible return to the use of anti-personnel mines to complement our defense systems.” The decision follows a six-month withdrawal process completed under the United Nations framework.
Finland’s parliament approved the withdrawal on June 19, 2025, citing the deteriorating security situation and Russia’s extensive mine deployment in Ukraine. The government deposited its formal notification with the UN on July 10, triggering the mandatory waiting period before the treaty exit becomes effective.
The Finnish Defense Forces are expected to restart stockpiling and develop plans for deployment after the withdrawal becomes effective. Officials have emphasized that the mines would be used only in defensive operations. Alongside Finland, Lithuania has also announced its intention to resume domestic production of anti-personnel mines beginning in 2026.
The decision aligns Finland with other NATO and EU members bordering Russia—such as Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Poland—that have already signaled or completed exits from the Ottawa Treaty.
Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine is moving forward with its exit from the Ottawa Convention, the international treaty banning anti-personnel landmines.
