U.S. President Joe Biden has approved the transfer of landmines to Ukraine, despite criticism from human rights advocates.
According to The Washington Post, the decision involves the provision of "unreliable" mines that automatically deactivate after a few days or weeks. The Ukrainian side has promised to avoid their use in densely populated areas. American officials state that such mines will help slow the advance of Russian troops and direct them into areas under the fire control of Ukrainian artillery.
However, this move has sparked significant criticism. Human rights organizations, particularly Human Rights Watch, emphasize that even modern models of landmines pose risks to civilians and require a complex and lengthy clearance process after hostilities conclude.
The Pentagon, on the other hand, asserts that providing landmines is an urgent necessity for Ukraine, given the threat of a breakthrough by Russian forces.
"Russia is attacking Ukrainian lines in the east with waves of troops, despite the losses they are suffering. Therefore, Ukrainians are clearly incurring losses, and more cities are at risk of falling. These mines were specifically designed to combat just that," said one official.
Discussions on this issue are ongoing in the international context. The U.S. and Russia are not parties to the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use and transfer of landmines. Meanwhile, Ukraine, which signed this agreement, now finds itself in a situation where such measures are a matter of survival. At the same time, human rights advocates view the U.S. decision as a "black mark" that calls into question Washington's position as a defender of international humanitarian law.
Source: washingtonpost.