US President Joe Biden approved the supply of antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine, according to what officials from his Administration informed several US media outlets, including The Washington Post.
The United States expects Ukraine to use mines on its own territory and has pledged not to use them in areas populated by its own civilians, according to a source who asked not to be identified told the Washington Post, the first media to report on this new boost from Biden. to Ukraine in its war against invading Russian troops.
Biden, who will hand over power next January to Republican Donald Trump, winner of the November 5 elections and supporter of a quick solution to the conflict through concessions on the part of Ukraine, recently authorized kyiv to use ATACMS long-range missiles. against Russian territory, a milestone in the war that began in February 2022 and that yesterday, Tuesday, marked 1,000 days.
Russia accused the outgoing US president of “adding fuel to the fire” with this decision that now reinforces the delivery of antipersonnel landmines.
The Washington Post notes in this regard that “sending antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine is also potentially controversial, although among a different group: more than 160 countries have signed an international treaty banning their use, noting that indiscriminate weapons can cause lasting damage.” to civilians.”
Read more: Ukraine attacks Russia for the first time with US missiles; this is what it entails
Sources say mines sent to Ukraine are ‘non-persistent’
However, Volodomir Zelensky’s government – the newspaper adds – has sought them since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and Russian forces have generously deployed anti-personnel landmines on the front lines, preventing Ukraine from advancing in its attempt to recover its own territory.
One of the four sources consulted by the newspaper specified that the type of antipersonnel landmine that will be delivered to Ukraine is “non-persistent,” which means that the devices self-destruct or lose battery charge and become inactive in a matter of days. or weeks, reducing the danger to civilians.
The official said Ukrainian policymakers have pledged not to deploy mines in densely populated areas but, the paper says, arms control experts say even non-persistent mines pose a security danger.
“Russia is attacking the Ukrainian lines in the east with waves of troops, regardless of the casualties they are suffering. Therefore, it is obvious that Ukrainians are suffering losses and more towns and cities are at risk of falling. “These mines were made specifically to combat exactly this,” said one of the sources.
“When used in conjunction with the other munitions we are already providing to Ukraine, the intention is that they will contribute to a more effective defense,” he added.
With information from EFE.
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