The Biden administration has decided to send anti-personnel mines to Ukraine for the first time, marking a big shift in U.S. policy. This comes just days after the U.S. gave Ukraine the green light to fire long-range missiles at targets inside Russia—a decision Ukraine had been pushing for months.
The U.S. plans for Ukraine to use these mines in the eastern parts of the country, where battles with Russian forces have been fierce. The fighting has been slow and costly, with Ukraine claiming this week that Russia has suffered its highest number of casualties yet. Despite heavy losses, Russia’s relentless pressure, combined with Ukraine facing shortages in troops and ammo, has allowed Russia to grab more ground.
The U.S. has made it clear that these mines are only for Ukraine’s defense within its own borders—not for use in Russia. U.S. officials have also asked Ukraine to do everything possible to minimize risks to civilians.
This is a big change from the U.S.’s earlier stance. In June 2022, just months into the war, the Biden administration pledged to limit the use of anti-personnel mines worldwide. Back then, the White House said it wouldn’t develop or export such mines anymore and aimed to destroy its stockpile. The only exception was South Korea, for its unique defense needs. Human rights groups have always been against these mines because they can harm civilians and stay dangerous long after wars end.
The mines the U.S. is sending to Ukraine are different from traditional ones. They’re called “non-persistent,” meaning they’re designed to deactivate after a short period—anywhere from a few hours to two weeks. They work with a battery-powered trigger that stops working when the battery dies. This helps reduce the long-term risks.
Russia has been using both anti-personnel and anti-tank mines since the war began. They’ve created dense minefields to slow down Ukrainian forces trying to push back. Last summer, during Ukraine’s counteroffensive, one Ukrainian official even described the number of Russian mines as “insane.”
While the U.S. has previously provided Ukraine with anti-tank mines to deal with Russia’s superior firepower, this is the first time it’s offering anti-personnel mines. It’s a significant move, especially as the Biden administration prepares to wrap up its term.
What do you think of this decision? Let us know your thoughts!
