Kyiv may seek to employ mines to slow Russia’s counterattacks, as well as to ensure that the current and future Russian offensives are also blunted.
Ukraine is considered one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, and according to UN sources, it may now hold the dubious distinction of having more of its territory contaminated by mines than any other nation on the planet. More than 20 percent of the country is littered with mines and unexploded ordnance. Even when the conflict subsides, mines and unexploded ordnance will remain a problem for Ukraine, perhaps for generations, as millions of people live in or near swaths where mines have been deployed. It could take decades for much of Ukraine’s farmland to eventually be cleared of mines, based on current estimates.
The situation could also get worse. Russian forces have deployed the majority of the anti-personnel mines now scattered throughout Ukraine. However, Kyiv may seek to withdraw from the treaty that bans the use of anti-personnel mines, and begin to deploy the deadly armaments.
On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree that placed the issue before his nation’s National Security and Defense Council, which will decide whether or not to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention. The Ukrainian leader argued that the Kremlin’s forces continue to deploy mines, and therefore, so too should Ukraine’s military.
“Russia has never been a party to this convention and uses anti-personnel mines with extreme cynicism. And not just now, in its war against Ukraine—this has long been a trademark of Russian killers: to destroy life by every means available. They use chemical and ballistic weapons, including medium-range missiles, and various types of mines, including anti-personnel ones. Unfortunately, that is the reality,” Zelensky said in an address on Sunday.
Ukraine Wants to Use Mines to Slow Russia’s Counterattacks
Ukraine’s likely decision to resume the use of landmines comes at an opportune moment. Though Russia’s latest offensive, which began in May, has been described as largely “underwhelming,” the Kremlin has gained some ground. Even small progress is a step backward for Ukraine, which saw its own offensive fail two summers ago, although it did establish a foothold in Russia’s Kursk Oblast last August.
Ukraine has ceded most of the ground it captured in Kursk and may seek to employ mines to slow Russia’s counterattacks, as well as to ensure that the current and future offensives are also blunted. Mines have been part of Russia’s fortifications, and Kyiv may want to have the same advantages.
“This is a step that has long been demanded by the reality of war,” Roman Kostenko, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, said in a statement, per CNN. “Russia is not a party to this Convention and uses mines against our military and civilians on a massive scale. We cannot remain bound by conditions when the enemy has no restrictions.”
Russia’s Neighbors Are Also Pulling Out of the Mine Treaty
If Ukraine does pull out of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, also known as the Ottawa Convention, it will not be alone in doing so. Earlier this year, the defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland issued a joint statement, announcing that all four nations—which are also NATO members—would be withdrawing from the convention.
The four ministers made clear the decision was prompted by Russian aggression.
“In light of this unstable security environment marked by Russia’s aggression and its ongoing threat to the Euro-Atlantic community, we must evaluate all measures to strengthen our deterrence and defense capabilities,” the four ministers said in a statement. They added, “We believe that in the current security environment, it is paramount to provide our defense forces with flexibility and freedom to use new weapon systems and solutions to bolster the defense of the Alliance’s vulnerable Eastern Flank.”
NATO member Finland has also signaled that it would withdraw due to security concerns and the perceived threat from Russia.
A total of 164 countries have ratified or acceded to the Ottawa Convention. However, the United States is among a handful of countries that opted not to sign on. The other nations that have failed to support the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention include Russia, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and South Korea.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons
