Ukraine responsible for tracking locations of mines US Defense Secretary says

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has explained that the Biden administration's decision to send anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine was driven by Russia's evolving tactics on the frontlines. 

“Because the Russians have been so unsuccessful in the way that they have been fighting, they’ve kind of changed their tactics a bit,” Austin told reporters in Laos, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

“They don’t lead with their mechanized forces anymore. They lead with dismounted forces who are able to close and do things to kind of pave the way for mechanized forces,” he added. 

The US aims for Ukraine to use these mines in eastern Ukraine, where Russian troops have been making gradual progress. Austin emphasized that Ukraine’s military needs “things that can help slow down that effort.” 

While the US has supplied Ukraine with anti-tank mines since the war’s outset, the decision to provide anti-personnel mines marks a significant shift in US policy under the Biden administration.

“The land mines that we would look to provide them with are land mines that are not persistent. We can control when they would self-activate, self-detonate, and that makes it far safer eventually than the things that they are creating on their own,” Austin explained. 

He also stressed the importance of Ukraine being responsible in “recording where they’re putting these mines.”

Earlier, US President Joe Biden authorized the delivery of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine. This decision is driven by concerns over a potential breakthrough by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. These mines will be deployed only in areas Washington recognises as Ukrainian territory.

This move contradicts the Biden administration's previous policy, which, two years ago, decided to limit the use of anti-personnel mines, effectively discontinuing their use outside of the Korean Peninsula.

Biden had criticised former President Donald Trump during his election campaign for lifting restrictions on the use of such mines, calling Trump’s decision reckless.

On the evening of November 18, Biden also authorised Ukraine's use of ATACMS missiles on Russian territory for the first time. The decision was made after Moscow allegedly engaged troops from North Korea in combat operations in the Kursk region. Washington had previously hesitated to take such a step due to concerns over escalating the conflict.

By Naila Huseynova