U.S. President Joe Biden has approved the delivery of antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine to bolster Kyiv’s defenses against advancing Russian forces, according to a report by The Washington Post citing two U.S. officials on November 20.
The land mines are classified as “nonpersistent.” They are designed to self-destruct or deactivate within days or weeks, mitigating long-term risks to civilians.
Ukrainian officials have assured they will not deploy the mines in densely populated areas.
“Russia is attacking Ukrainian lines in the East with waves of troops, regardless of their casualties,” a U.S. official stated. “These mines are specifically designed to counter such tactics.”
The decision follows months of deliberations within the White House and comes shortly after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory.
Ukraine has faced increasing difficulties in establishing defensive lines against relentless Russian assaults. Officials believe the mines could slow enemy advances and enhance the precision of artillery strikes.
Ukrainian officials welcomed the policy shift despite acknowledging the inherent risks of deploying such weapons.
“Russia uses them anyway,” one Ukrainian official remarked anonymously.
Neither the United States nor Russia is a signatory to the Ottawa Convention, which bans antipersonnel land mines. Biden had previously resisted providing these weapons due to humanitarian concerns.
