Official statements from the U.S. government or Department of Defense

Biden Undoes Obama-Era Ban, Sends Self-Destructing Mines to Ukraine Amid Criticism

Nov 20, 2024, 01:15 AM

President Joe Biden has authorized the provision of antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine, undoing his own policy against their use and reversing an Obama-era ban. The decision aims to bolster Kyiv's defenses against advancing Russian forces and comes two days after the U.S. approved ATACMS missiles for Ukraine. The move has drawn criticism from within his own administration and from arms control and human rights groups, who warn of the enduring danger land mines pose to civilians, including children, often decades after conflicts end. More than 160 countries have signed an international treaty banning land mines. U.S. officials noted that the mines to be provided are "nonpersistent," designed to self-destruct or deactivate after a certain period, reducing the risk to non-combatants. Ukraine has given assurances that it will not deploy the mines in densely populated areas.