WASHINGTON, Nov 21, (V7N) – The US government's decision to send anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine, a significant shift in policy, has drawn criticism from human rights groups. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin explained on Wednesday that the change was prompted by a shift in Russian military tactics, with Russian forces now leading with infantry rather than mechanized units. "They lead with dismounted forces who are able to close and do things to kind of pave the way for mechanized forces," Austin told reporters during a visit to Laos, adding that Ukraine needs tools to slow down these Russian tactics.

This decision follows President Joe Biden’s reversal of earlier restrictions on US landmine use, just days after authorizing long-range US missiles for Ukraine. This policy change has raised alarms in both Ukraine and Europe, particularly with President-elect Donald Trump set to take office in January. Trump has previously criticized US support for Ukraine and claimed he could secure a ceasefire in hours, fueling uncertainty about continued US aid.

Ukraine's use of anti-personnel mines, however, has raised significant legal and humanitarian concerns. Despite the United States' provision of "non-persistent" mines, designed to self-destruct after a set time, rights organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International warn of the dangers to civilians. Human Rights Watch's Mary Wareham emphasized that the mines' self-deactivation feature is insufficient, stressing that de-miners face grave risks when handling unexploded ordnance.

This controversial decision comes amid increasing battlefield escalations, with Ukraine recently deploying US-made ATACMS missiles at Russian targets and Russia lowering its nuclear weapons threshold. As both sides jockey for position before Trump’s potential policy shift, the use of landmines and other munitions continues to spark international debate on the balance between military strategy and civilian safety.

END/SMA/RH/