President Joe Biden has approved the provision of anti-personnel land mines to Ukraine in an effort to support its defense against Russian advances, a senior US official confirmed to Reuters. This decision, which comes amid the ongoing war, is expected to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities, particularly in slowing Russian troop movements in the eastern region of the country. The US has supplied anti-tank mines to Ukraine previously, but the inclusion of anti-personnel mines is aimed at further hindering the advancement of Russian forces.
The US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, clarified that the anti-personnel mines would only be used within Ukraine’s territory and not in civilian areas. These mines are designed to be “non-persistent,” meaning they become inert after a predetermined period, a safety measure distinguishing them from Russia’s mines. They require a battery to detonate, and once the battery expires, they will not explode.
The announcement came shortly after Ukraine used US-supplied ATACMS missiles to strike deep into Russian territory on the war’s 1,000th day, marking a significant escalation. The missiles, which have the longest range of any US weapon provided to Ukraine, were employed after the Biden administration granted permission for their use.
Russia has responded strongly, with President Vladimir Putin warning that the use of US, British, and French long-range missiles by Ukraine would be considered direct involvement by NATO. This follows months of warnings from Moscow that such actions would lower the threshold for a nuclear response.
The Kremlin, along with Ukraine’s defense ministry and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office, has not yet commented on the latest developments, as tensions in the conflict continue to rise.