The United States will provide Ukraine with “non-persistent antipersonnel mines” (equipped with a self-destruct or self-deactivation device) to strengthen its defenses against Russian invasion, a senior American official said in night from Tuesday to Wednesday.
This decision comes after the green light given on Sunday by President Joe Biden to Ukraine for the use against Russian territory of long-range missiles supplied by the United States.
“A disastrous decision”
The International Campaign to Ban Mines (ICBL) denounced this decision on Wednesday morning: “This is a disastrous decision by the United States (…) Ukraine must clearly state that it cannot accept, nor that she will accept these weapons,” the organization wrote. The group, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, affirmed that it “will endeavor to get the United States to reverse its decision”.
“They are fully dedicated to prolonging the war in Ukraine and are doing everything they can to this end,” responded Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov.
Global increase in the number of mine victims
Mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) killed or injured at least 5,757 people last year (compared to 4,710 victims in 2022), including 84% civilians, in around fifty countries, notes the annual report of the organization, unveiled Wednesday.
The toll, up 20% over one year, includes 1,983 dead and 3,663 injured, to which are added 111 other victims, whose statistics do not indicate whether they survived.
