Biden’s Shocking Policy Shift: U.S. Greenlights Antipersonnel Mines for Ukraine

This decision follows growing concerns that Russia’s progress in eastern Ukraine could overpower the defenses on the front lines.

By Sheenu Gupta On Nov 20, 2024 Share with new partner:

President Joe Biden has given the green light for the supply of antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine, according to two U.S. officials. This decision is intended to enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities as Russian forces continue to advance, particularly in the eastern regions of the country.

While the move is seen as a necessary measure to strengthen Ukraine’s position on the battlefield, it has sparked significant criticism from arms control advocates, who argue that the use of such mines could escalate humanitarian risks and violate international agreements designed to limit their use.

The decision follows the White House’s recent approval for Ukraine to use the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to strike Russian territory—part of a series of urgent measures the Biden administration is taking to support Ukraine’s struggling defense efforts. In response to the missile strikes, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of retaliation.

The move to send antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine is also expected to stir controversy, but for different reasons. More than 160 countries have signed an international treaty banning their use, citing the long-term dangers these indiscriminate weapons pose to civilians.

Despite this, Ukraine has requested the mines since Russia’s invasion nearly three years ago, and the Kremlin’s forces have widely used them on the front lines, hindering Ukraine’s attempts to reclaim its territory.

Officials have stated that the Biden administration is highly concerned about Russia’s recent attacks on Ukraine’s front lines and recognizes an urgent need to halt the Russian advance. The Pentagon views the delivery of antipersonnel mines as one of the most effective measures the administration can take to help slow down Russia’s offensive.

An official explained that the antipersonnel land mines being provided are “nonpersistent,” meaning they are designed to self-destruct or lose battery power within days or weeks, minimizing the risk to civilians. The official also noted that Ukrainian leaders have pledged not to use the mines in heavily populated areas.

However, arms control experts argue that even nonpersistent mines still present safety risks. The official, along with three others, shared these details under the condition of anonymity in order to discuss confidential White House discussions.

One official explained that Russia is relentlessly attacking Ukrainian positions in the east with waves of troops, despite the heavy casualties they are suffering. As a result, Ukraine is experiencing significant losses, and more towns and cities are at risk of falling. The official emphasized that the mines were specifically designed to address this type of threat. When combined with other weapons already supplied to Ukraine, the aim is to strengthen their defense capabilities.

Although President Biden had initially been hesitant to provide Ukraine with the mines due to concerns within his administration and objections from anti-mine advocates who warn of the risks to civilians, Russia’s recent advances have pushed the White House to explore new ways to support Ukraine. This shift has been further influenced by the election of President-elect Donald Trump, who has promised to pursue a swift resolution to the conflict.

The United States has already supplied Ukraine with Claymore mines, a type of antipersonnel mine that is placed above ground and activated by an operator. These are allowed under mine ban conventions, as long as they are used correctly. The new antipersonnel mines being sent to Ukraine will be used only within Ukrainian territory, primarily focusing on the eastern regions where Russian forces have made substantial gains, especially in the Donetsk area.

Over the past few months, Russia has advanced at its fastest pace since 2022. Ukrainian forces have struggled to establish strong defensive lines against constant drone attacks and small-scale assaults. The new mines are expected to help slow down Russian troops, forcing them into areas where they can be targeted by Ukrainian artillery and rockets.

Neither Russia nor the United States is a signatory to the Ottawa Convention, or Mine Ban Treaty, which prohibits the use and transfer of antipersonnel land mines. In 2022, President Biden reinstated a policy from the Obama administration that bans the transfer and use of U.S. antipersonnel mines outside the Korean Peninsula.

One Ukrainian official expressed support for the policy shift, acknowledging the potential risks of widespread land mine use, but emphasized that Russia is already deploying such mines. The official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the issue, noted that the change would still benefit Ukraine’s defense efforts.

However, human rights advocates have strongly criticized the U.S. decision to send antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine, a country that is a signatory of the Mine Ban Treaty. Mary Wareham, deputy director of the crisis, conflict, and arms division at Human Rights Watch, called the move “shocking and devastating.” She argued that even nonpersistent mines pose significant risks to civilians, require complex cleanup efforts, and may not always be reliably deactivated.

In 2020, the Trump administration reversed the Obama-era policy on land mines, citing the need for strategic mine use to counter threats from nations like Russia and China, a move that sparked strong opposition from arms control advocates.

Biden, then a presidential candidate, condemned Trump’s decision, saying it would increase the risk of civilian casualties from unexploded mines and that it was unnecessary from a military standpoint, calling it “reckless.”

As of 2022, the United States had a stockpile of approximately 3 million antipersonnel land mines. However, these mines had not been used in combat since the 1991 Gulf War, with the exception of a single incident in Afghanistan in 2002, according to the State Department.

The Biden administration has pledged to assist with mine-clearance efforts in Ukraine once the conflict concludes. One U.S. official stated that this commitment will also extend to clearing the U.S.-supplied land mines.

The ongoing war in Ukraine has led other nations to reconsider their stance on antipersonnel land mines. Earlier this year, the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia briefly considered withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention to enhance their defenses against Russian aggression. However, they ultimately chose to strengthen their stocks of antitank mines and other weapons that pose less risk to civilians.