Biden agrees to give Ukraine anti-personnel mines

President Joe Biden has authorized the provision of anti-personnel land mines to Ukraine, a decision aimed at slowing the advance of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, according to a US defense official speaking to the BBC. These mines are expected to be delivered shortly, with the United States anticipating their deployment within Ukraine’s borders. A key aspect of this decision is that Ukraine has committed to using the mines with caution, ensuring they are not deployed in densely populated areas, the official confirmed.

In a separate development, the US State Department announced the temporary closure of its embassy in Kyiv following intelligence indicating a potential significant airstrike on November 20. As a precaution, embassy employees were instructed to shelter in place, and American citizens in Ukraine were advised to be ready to seek shelter in the event of an air alert.

Meanwhile, both Ukraine and Russia reported significant drone attacks on their territories overnight. It remains unclear if there were any casualties from these strikes.

The US decision to supply anti-personnel land mines to Ukraine represents a significant escalation in its support for Kyiv’s military efforts against Russian forces. This move comes amid growing concerns about Russia’s persistent advances in eastern Ukraine. Since the invasion began in February 2022, Russia has heavily deployed landmines across Ukrainian territories, but the international community has largely opposed their use due to the dangers they pose to civilians.

Despite these objections, the Biden administration had previously refrained from providing such weapons, citing these humanitarian concerns. However, with Ukraine’s assurance that the mines would only be used in specific circumstances and would have a limited lifespan, Washington has now authorized their deployment. The US-made mines are “non-persistent,” meaning they deactivate after a pre-set period, ranging from four hours to two weeks. They are electrically fused, and once their battery runs out, they can no longer detonate. This contrasts with the mines deployed by Russia, which remain active indefinitely and are a much greater threat to civilian populations.

The United States has already been supplying Ukraine with anti-tank mines, but these anti-personnel mines are designed to be rapidly deployed and to disrupt the movement of Russian ground forces more effectively.

In addition to the mine deployment, the US has provided Ukraine with longer-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (Atacms), which have already been used to strike Russian targets. Recent reports confirmed that these missiles hit targets within Russia, including in the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine to the north. Russian authorities reported shooting down several of the missiles, though conflicting accounts from US officials suggested that at least two of the missiles were intercepted while others caused damage, including a fire at a Russian military facility. These discrepancies have not been independently verified.

In response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the United States of escalating the conflict by allowing the use of such advanced weaponry. The Kremlin, for its part, has vowed retaliation. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a revision to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, outlining new conditions under which the country might consider using nuclear weapons. The updated doctrine stipulates that Russia would regard an attack by a non-nuclear state, if supported by a nuclear power, as a joint assault on Russia, thus warranting a nuclear response.

A US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, commented on the new doctrine, condemning Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and actions. He emphasized that Russia had been using nuclear threats to intimidate not only Ukraine but also the international community since the beginning of the war. These statements reflect the escalating tension between the two nuclear powers as the conflict continues to intensify.

As the war moves into its second year, both sides continue to adjust their strategies and escalate their use of advanced military technologies, with the US playing a key role in bolstering Ukraine’s defenses against Russia’s ongoing invasion.