U.S. President Joe Biden has approved the delivery of landmines to Ukraine, an American government official who requested anonymity told the Reuters news agency. Analysts believe an influx of U.S. landmines could play a major role in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, especially in the region of eastern Ukraine.
U.S. landmines, especially in significant numbers, could slow down the advance of Russian ground troops. The government official who spoke to Reuters emphasized that the United States expects Ukraine to use these devices only on its territory — not in Russia.
The moves appear to be a part of the Biden administration’s strategy to rush out as many arms to Ukraine as possible before Biden’s term ends. The White House already announced another €8 billion in aid to Ukraine earlier this month.
American landmines are significantly different from their Russian counterparts. According to the official, these devices do not present a permanent threat, but automatically deactivate after a predetermined period of time. The landmines require a battery to continue running and thus cannot detonate after the battery is dead. This technology reduces long-term hazards and facilitates post-conflict demining.
The BBC reports that “mines are vital” to slow down Russian advances, and human rights issues are seen as secondary.
“Human rights groups may not like them, but faced with Russia’s overwhelming might, in terms of manpower and artillery, there are no comfortable choices,” writes Paul Adams, the diplomatic correspondent from the BBC.
He writes that the Russians are partaking in “suicide missions” involving three to five men who are sent to ride motorbikes or walk behind Ukrainian positions. While these men are “invariably killed or captured,” they are also “creating major headaches for Ukraine’s exhausted front-line troops.”
“It’s very difficult to deal with,” Serhiy Kuzan from the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre told the BBC. “We need more anti-personnel mines.”
