US NewsBiden approves controversial landmines for Ukraine's defense. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirms

Biden approves controversial landmines for Ukraine's defense. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirms

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed that Joe Biden's administration will allow Ukraine to use landmines supplied by the USA to support its fight against Russian forces.

Another breakthrough regarding Ukraine. Official confirmation has already been received.
Another breakthrough regarding Ukraine. Official confirmation has already been received.
Images source: © Getty Images | Kent Nishimura

4:09 PM EST, November 20, 2024

The Associated Press reported on Wednesday, during a conversation with journalists in Laos, that the policy change is a response to the Russians' evolving tactics.

Austin: Ukraine needs tools

Austin noted that Russian ground forces are now taking the lead on the battlefield instead of more protected forces in armored vehicles. Ukraine has a "need for things that can help slow down that effort on the part of the Russians," he explained.

The Russian army is gradually displacing the numerically smaller Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk region in the east of the country.

Charities and activists have long criticized anti-personnel mines due to their prolonged threat to civilians. Lloyd Austin addressed these concerns.

Austin explained that the mines they plan to provide are designed to be temporary, with the ability to control both their activation and self-destruction, making them significantly safer than those independently produced by Ukraine.

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) or loses the ability to explode after a specified time, becoming harmless. This ensures they do not threaten civilians long-term after the end of hostilities.

Ukraine can now strike Russia

The decision to supply Ukraine with anti-personnel mines was made alongside the U.S., granting permission for Ukrainians to attack targets deep within Russia using weapons supplied by the USA.

"To me, this is an example of the indifference of the American administration. The decision was made as President Joe Biden's term is coming to an end. And there will be no need to justify anything. Biden made the decision about the mines on the principle of: 'Now I can.' But these are still just fig leaves," assessed retired Col. Piotr Lewandowski, a participant in combat missions abroad and former commander of a military base in Redzikowo, in a conversation with Wirtualna Polska.

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