Biden approves anti-personnel landmines for Ukraine to aid defense against Russia

U.S. President Joe Biden has approved the provision of anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine, marking a significant shift in military support. This decision aims to help slow the advance of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine. The U.S. expects Ukraine to use these mines within its own territory and has received assurances that they will not be deployed in civilian areas. Unlike Russian mines, the U.S. landmines are designed to become inert after a set period. In related developments, Ukraine reportedly used U.S. ATACMS rockets to strike inside Russia for the first time, targeting an ammunition depot. The Kremlin has condemned this as an escalation and reiterated its nuclear defense policy in response.