The US press reported that President Joe Biden approved the sending of antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine. It was stated that the use of the mines in question would be limited to Ukrainian territory. It was suggested that providing the mines to Ukraine was one of the most useful steps the Biden administration could take to slow down Russia’s attack. It was emphasized that Ukraine promised not to place the mines in densely populated areas.
According to the news of The Washington Post newspaper citing two US officials, US President Joe Biden approved the provision of antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine.
The Biden administration has been deeply concerned about Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s front lines in recent weeks and sees an “urgent need” to slow the Russian military’s advance, the officials said.
GOAL: SLOW DOWN RUSSIAN ATTACKS
The Pentagon believes that giving the mines to Ukraine is one of the most useful steps the Biden administration can take to slow Russia’s offensive, the officials said.
One of the officials said the antipersonnel land mines to be given to Ukraine are “non-persistent,” meaning they self-destruct or lose battery power and become ineffective over days or weeks, reducing the danger to civilians.
The official emphasized that Ukraine promised not to place the mines in densely populated areas.
“THEY WILL BE USED ONLY ON UKRAINIAN TERRITORY”
Another official stated that the use of the mines in question would be limited to Ukrainian territory and that it was expected to focus on eastern Ukraine.
A Ukrainian official, on the other hand, stated that they welcomed this step by the US despite the potential risks that may arise, saying, “Russia is already using them (mines). The US administration has not yet made an official statement on the subject.
THE ISSUE OF MINE SUPPLY TO UKRAINE
The US and Russia are not parties to the Ottawa Convention, also known as the “Mine Ban Treaty,” which bans the deployment and transfer of antipersonnel land mines.
U.S. President Joe Biden has previously been reluctant to supply mines to Ukraine over concerns from his administration’s many anti-mine activists, who said the risk to civilians was unacceptably high.
REACTION TO MINE DECISION
Human rights groups have slammed the U.S. decision to supply mines to Ukraine. “This is a shocking and devastating development,” said Mary Wareham, deputy director of the Crisis, Conflict, and Weapons Division at Human Rights Watch.
Wareham emphasized that even non-persistent mines pose a risk to civilians, require complex clearance efforts, and are not always reliably neutralized.
