US President Joe Biden has approved the provision of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, The Washington Post reports , quoted by Focus. This decision comes after the White House recently authorized Ukraine to use US long-range weapons to strike deep into Russia.
According to the outlet's source, the mines provided are "unsustainable", meaning they self-destruct or lose battery power after a certain amount of time. This reduces the risk to the civilian population. The Ukrainian authorities have assured that these mines will not be used in densely populated areas.
However, arms control experts warn that even this type of mine poses security risks.
„Russia is attacking Ukrainian positions in the east with waves of troops, putting Ukrainian towns and villages at risk. Such mines were created specifically to deal with such situations”, explains an anonymous American official representative.
When used in conjunction with other munitions provided, the mines can significantly increase the effectiveness of Ukrainian defenses, another source added. According to officials, their use will be limited to Ukrainian territory, mainly in the eastern regions.
A Ukrainian official has welcomed the decision, saying any military aid is valuable, even with the risks involved. “Russia uses anti-personnel mines anyway,”, he notes.
Human rights criticisms
The US decision to provide anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, which has signed an international treaty banning such weapons, has drawn criticism from human rights groups. They think it's a "black spot" for Washington and could put civilians in further danger.
In 2020 Donald Trump's administration has resumed the use of landmines for strategic purposes, drawing condemnation from gun control advocates. At the time, Joe Biden, then a presidential candidate, called the decision "reckless" and emphasized that it puts more civilians at risk.
Historical Context
The US has approximately three million anti-personnel mines in its stockpile by 2022. Since 1991, during the Persian Gulf War, these weapons have hardly been used, except for one incident in Afghanistan in 2002.
The Biden administration has already committed to supporting the demining of Ukraine after the war ends. An American representative has stated that this commitment will also cover the clearance of US-supplied mines.