US President Biden approves anti-personnel mines for Ukraine as tensions rise with Russia
By Sunita Iyer | First Published Nov 20, 2024, 10:40 AM ISTUS President Joe Biden has authorized the delivery of anti-personnel land mines to Ukraine in a bid to slow the Russian advance in the eastern regions of the country.
US President Joe Biden has authorized the delivery of anti-personnel land mines to Ukraine in a bid to slow the Russian advance in the eastern regions of the country. According to several reports quoting a US official, the mines are expected to be delivered soon, with the understanding that they will be used within Ukrainian territory.
Biden approves anti-personnel land mines for Ukraine to deploy against the enemy storming the front line. This is the second reversal this week to help Ukraine win the war. We need all weapons possible. The interesting fact about these mines is that they neutralize after time.
— Ukraine Front Line (@EuromaidanPR)The decision to send these mines is part of a broader US effort to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities, particularly as Russian forces have made steady progress in the east over recent months. The official emphasized that Ukraine has committed to using the mines in a manner that avoids civilian-populated areas. This measure aims to strengthen Ukraine's ability to counter the Russian ground forces that have been advancing in strategic regions.
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How are US mines difference from Russian land mines
This move marks a significant escalation in the types of munitions being provided to Ukraine. The US has already supplied anti-tank mines, but anti-personnel mines will provide Ukraine with an additional tool to delay Russian forces.
The US mines differ from Russia’s land mines in that they are "non-persistent," meaning they will deactivate after a set period, rendering them harmless once the battery used to detonate them expires. This feature is intended to reduce long-term risks to civilians and combatants after the conflict ends.
The news comes at a time when tensions are running high, with Russia recently warning that Western involvement in the war, including the use of advanced US missile systems by Ukraine, could provoke a nuclear response. This follows the use of US ATACMS missiles by Ukraine to strike Russian territory, marking a significant expansion of Western military support for Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin reduced the threshold for a nuclear strike, warning that a wider range of conventional attacks could provoke such a response.
The decision came after months of warnings from Moscow to the West, indicating that if Washington permitted Ukraine to launch U.S., British, and French missiles into Russian territory, Russia would view those NATO members as being directly involved in the war.
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