Austin confirms US provision of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine: AFU needs things to help slow down Russian offensive
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin confirmed that the administration of current US President Joe Biden had transferred anti-personnel mines to Ukraine. This decision, according to Austin, was motivated by Russia's changing tactics at the front.
The corresponding statement of the US Secretary of Defense is cited by AP, Censor.NET reports.
Austin said that the change in Washington's policy on anti-personnel mines for Ukraine is a consequence of the change in Russian tactics at the front.
According to the American minister, Russian ground forces are attacking on the battlefield, rather than more "protected" battles on armored personnel carriers, so Ukraine "needs things that can help slow down these Russian efforts."
"They are no longer attacking with their mechanized forces. They operate with the help of infantry, which is able to approach and pave the way for mechanized troops... The anti-personnel mines we want to provide them are non-contact mines, meaning we can control when they self-activate, self-detonate, and this makes them much safer than contact mines," the Pentagon chief said.
Earlier, The Washington Post wrote that current US President Joe Biden had authorized the supply of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine. This should strengthen Kyiv's defense capabilities in countering the Russian offensive in the East.
