President Biden has authorized the delivery of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, marking a significant shift in U.S. policy as the war with Russia intensifies. The decision, confirmed by a U.S. defense official, aims to bolster Ukraine's defense against Russian advances, particularly along the eastern frontlines. The move comes amid heightened global tensions following Russia's revision of its nuclear doctrine and increasing aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The Biden administration's approval of these weapons reflects an urgent effort to strengthen Ukraine's position before President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to scale back U.S. support for Kyiv, takes office. Until now, the U.S. had only supplied Ukraine with anti-tank mines. The newly approved anti-personnel mines are "non-persistent," designed to deactivate after a pre-set period ranging from hours to two weeks, minimizing long-term risks to civilians, according to U.S. officials.
Ukraine has committed to deploying these mines exclusively on its own territory and avoiding densely populated areas. The weapons are seen as a tactical necessity to slow Russian troop movements in rural and wooded areas, particularly in the Donbas region, where heavy fighting continues. Ukrainian military analyst Serhiy Kuzan described the situation as dire, stating, "We need more anti-personnel mines to counter Russia's advancing squads."
The use of anti-personnel mines has long been controversial due to their potential impact on civilians. While 164 countries have signed the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning their use, the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine have not. Advocacy groups have criticized the Biden administration's decision, with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines urging a reversal, stating that "the protection of civilians cannot be compromised, even in extraordinarily difficult circumstances."
Russia has extensively employed landmines since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, leading to significant contamination of Ukrainian territory. More than 20% of Ukraine is now estimated to be affected by mines, complicating civilian life and agricultural activity. The U.S. defense official emphasized that the mines provided to Ukraine are technologically advanced, requiring electrical fuses and battery power to detonate. Once the battery expires, the mines become inert, reducing the long-term danger posed by these weapons.
The announcement comes as Ukraine continues to expand its military capabilities, recently deploying U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles to strike targets inside Russia. Kyiv confirmed the use of these long-range weapons in an attack on Russia's Bryansk region earlier this week. While Russia claimed to have intercepted most of the missiles, U.S. officials reported that only two out of eight were successfully neutralized.
The Kremlin has responded with threats of retaliation, accusing Washington of escalating the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized the U.S. for its support of Ukraine, and President Vladimir Putin formally revised Russia's nuclear doctrine to lower the threshold for deploying nuclear weapons. The updated policy states that any attack on Russia by a non-nuclear state, if backed by a nuclear power, could be treated as a joint assault justifying a nuclear response.
As the geopolitical stakes rise, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv announced its temporary closure on Wednesday, citing "specific information of a potential significant air attack." Staff were instructed to shelter in place, and American citizens in Ukraine were urged to prepare for immediate action in case of air alerts. Similar warnings were issued by Italian and Greek embassies, highlighting the heightened security risks in the region.
