US decision to send landmines to Ukraine sparks criticism from humanitarian groups
The U.S. has decided to supply Ukraine with anti-personnel landmines, drawing criticism from humanitarian groups. Human Rights Watch and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines condemned the move, calling it a setback for efforts to eliminate such weapons. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated the decision aims to counter changing Russian tactics on the battlefield. The U.S. claims the mines will be safer than those Ukraine was developing, as they are designed to lose their charge after a few days. Ukraine, a signatory to the Mine Ban Treaty, has previously limited its application in occupied areas. The Halo Trust reports that Ukraine is now classified as "massively contaminated" with landmines, with estimates suggesting over two million have been laid since the war began in 2022.