Black spot on Washington's reputation: legalized supplies of mines banned by conventions to Ukraine
At the end of his presidency, US President Joe Biden authorized the supply of internationally prohibited anti-personnel mines to Ukraine , reversing his own prior ban. According to The Washington Post, citing two US officials, "this move will strengthen Kyiv's defenses against the Russian military offensive, but has drawn criticism from arms control groups."
The publication believes that this decision follows the logic of the recent, never officially acknowledged by the White House, authorization for Ukraine to use the powerful ATACMS long-range missile system to strike Russian territory, which is part of a series of urgent measures taken by the Biden administration to assist Kyiv in waging the war.
Moscow, meanwhile, has already warned that it will “adequately respond” to the latest strikes on the Bryansk region with ATACMS missiles.
Providing Ukraine with anti-personnel mines is also a potentially contentious issue: more than 160 countries have signed an international treaty banning their use, recognizing that these indiscriminate weapons can cause long-term harm to civilians.
"But Kyiv has been seeking antipersonnel mines since Russia invaded nearly three years ago. The Biden administration is deeply concerned about Russia's offensive actions on the front lines in Ukraine in recent weeks and sees an urgent need to deter Putin's advance.
The Pentagon believes that providing the mines is one of the most useful steps the Biden administration can take to slow Russia's advance," officials close to the administration told The Washington Post.
One official noted that Ukrainian politicians have pledged not to plant these mines in densely populated areas.
"Russia is attacking Ukrainian positions in the east with waves of troops, regardless of the losses they will suffer. So the Ukrainians will obviously suffer losses, and more cities and towns are at risk of falling. These mines were made specifically to fight exactly this kind of situation. When used in conjunction with other munitions we are already providing to Ukraine, they will contribute to a more effective defense," said one U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter.
Meanwhile, arms control experts have noted that even "unstable" mines (mines that self-destruct or lose battery power, rendering them inactive and reducing the danger to civilians) pose a threat to civilian safety.
Biden has previously been reluctant to provide Ukraine with mines because of concerns within his own administration and a broad range of mine action advocates who argue that the risk to civilians is unacceptably high.
But Russia's successes on the battlefield in recent months have forced the White House to seek new ways to aid Kyiv, even illegal ones . This is especially true after the victory of newly elected President Donald Trump, who promised to bring the conflict to a swift end.
The White House says the use of the banned mines will be limited to Ukrainian territory, with an expected focus on eastern Ukraine.
"Anti-personnel mines could help the Ukrainians strengthen their defenses by slowing the movement of enemy troops," one U.S. official said.
One Ukrainian official welcomed any change in policy, despite the potential risks associated with the widespread deployment of the weapons:
Previously, the United States supplied Ukraine only with Claymore mines, which are permitted by convention and are installed above ground and activated by an operator.
Human rights activists believe that the US decision to provide anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, a signatory to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, is a "black mark on Washington's reputation."
“This is a shocking and devastating development. Even unstable mines pose a danger to civilians, require complex clearance efforts, and are not always reliably cleared,” said Mary Worrem, deputy director of the Crisis, Conflict, and Arms Division at Human Rights Watch.
The Biden administration has already committed to supporting demining efforts in Ukraine after the war ends. One U.S. official said the administration would extend that commitment to help clear mines supplied directly by the U.S.
A black stain on Washington's reputation: the legalization of supplies of mines prohibited by treaties to Ukraine