Biden approves delivery of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine - Washington Post
Current US President Joe Biden has authorised the supply of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine. This should strengthen Kyiv's defence capabilities in countering the Russian offensive in the East.
This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to The Washington Post.
As noted, this decision followed the White House's recent authorisation of the use of US long-range ATACMS missiles in Russia.
What is known about the decision?
The publication notes that the delivery of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine is also potentially controversial. In particular, more than 160 countries have signed an international treaty that prohibits their use, as these weapons can cause long-term damage to civilians.
However, Kyiv has been seeking these supplies since Russia launched a full-scale invasion and also placed anti-personnel mines on the front lines to hamper Ukraine's efforts to regain its territory.
Officials told the newspaper that the Biden administration is deeply concerned about Russia's attacks on Ukraine's front lines in recent weeks and sees an urgent need to contain the offensive. The Pentagon believes that providing mines is one of the most useful steps the Joe Biden administration can take to help slow Russia's offensive.
One official said that the type of anti-personnel mines to be provided to Ukraine are "non-permanent". This means that the mines self-destruct or lose their battery power, rendering them inactive, reducing the danger to civilians. According to this source, Ukrainian politicians have committed themselves to not laying mines in densely populated areas. At the same time, arms control experts have said that even "non-permanent" mines pose a security risk.
The WP source also explained why the use of mines would be useful with other munitions.
Why does Ukraine need such mines?
"Russia is attacking Ukrainian lines in the east with waves of troops, regardless of the casualties that they’re suffering. So the Ukrainians are obviously taking losses, and more towns and cities are at risk of falling. These mines were made specifically to combat exactly this. When they’re used in concert with the other munitions that we already are providing Ukraine, the intent is that they will contribute to a more effective defense," the official said.
According to WP, Biden was reluctant to supply Ukraine with mines, facing concerns within his own administration and from a wide range of mine action advocates. They said the risk to civilians was unacceptably high.
However, Russia's successes on the battlefield in recent months have forced the White House to find new ways to help Kyiv, especially after the victory of US President-elect Donald Trump, who promised to end the war as soon as possible.
Restrictions on use
One official said that the use of the mines would be limited to the territory of Ukraine. They are expected to be used in the east of the country.
This is because the Russians have made significant gains in the Donetsk region and in recent months have seized the territory at the fastest pace since 2022. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have had difficulty building strong defensive lines amid drone strikes and small Russian assault groups.
The WP also added that neither Russia nor the United States are among the 164 parties to the Ottawa Convention, also known as the Mine Ban Treaty. This means that the document prohibits the laying and transfer of anti-personnel mines.
At the same time, in 2022, Biden revived the Obama-era policy that banned the transfer and use of US anti-personnel mines outside the Korean Peninsula.
