US approves safer landmines for Ukraine's defense strategy
The US Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin, confirmed that Joe Biden's administration will allow Ukraine to use landmines supplied by the US to support its fight against Russian forces.
During a conversation with journalists on Wednesday, during a visit to Laos, the Associated Press reported that the policy change stems from adapting to the changing tactics of the Russians.
Austin: Ukraine needs tools
Austin noted that Russian ground forces are now taking the lead on the battlefield, instead of more protected forces in armoured vehicles. - Therefore, Ukraine needs tools that can help slow down Russian actions - he said.
The Russian army is gradually displacing the numerically smaller Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk region in the east of the country.
Anti-personnel mines have long been criticised by charities and activists due to their prolonged threat to civilians. Lloyd Austin addressed these arguments.
- The mines we intend to supply them with are mines that are not permanent. We can control when they activate and when they self-destruct, ultimately making them much safer than the ones Ukraine produces on its own - Austin said.
Anti-personnel mines that are "non-persistent" have a built-in self-destruction or deactivation mechanism after a certain period. In practice, this means that the mine automatically detonates after a set time (e.g., several hours, days, or weeks), regardless of whether it was activated by contact with a person. It loses the ability to explode after a specified time and becomes harmless. This way, it does not pose a long-term threat to civilians after the end of hostilities.
Ukraine can now strike Russia
The decision to supply Ukraine with anti-personnel mines was made alongside the US granting permission for Ukrainians to attack targets deep within Russia using weapons supplied by the US.
- To me, this is an example of the passivity of the American administration. The decision was made as President Joe Biden's term is ending. And there will be no need to justify anything. Biden decided the mines on the principle: "Now I can." But these are still fig leaves - assessed in a conversation with WP by retired Col. Piotr Lewandowski, a participant in combat missions abroad and former commander of a military base in Redzikowo.
