Humanitarian organizations have raised concerns as the United States has opted to send landmines to Ukraine amidst the ongoing war against Russia, igniting a debate over the implications for civilian safety and the humanitarian impact in the region.
US Decision to Supply Landmines to Ukraine Draws Criticism from Humanitarian Groups
US Decision to Supply Landmines to Ukraine Draws Criticism from Humanitarian Groups
The move is seen as a response to the ongoing conflict; experts warn of the human cost.
The United States has faced backlash from anti-landmine groups for its controversial decision to supply Ukraine with anti-personnel mines, as the war in Eastern Europe continues. This approval from Washington is intended to slow the advancing Russian units in Ukraine's eastern regions.
Mary Wareham, the director of Human Rights Watch, described the U.S. decision as a "shocking and devastating development" for those dedicated to eradicating landmines. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) echoed those sentiments, condemning the U.S. move "in the strongest possible terms." Tamar Gabelnick, director of ICBL, emphasized that these types of weapons, banned by the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty due to their catastrophic impact on civilian lives, should not be acquired, stockpiled, or used by Ukraine as a state party.
While international law does not prohibit the use of landmines, over 160 countries have signed the Mine Ban Treaty committing to eliminating their production and usage. Despite being a signatory to the treaty, Ukraine's application to it has been deemed "limited" since the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Human Rights Watch's Wareham highlighted the significant progress made over the past 25 years under the international treaty and emphasized the troubling nature of the U.S.'s recent decision. The use of anti-personnel landmines, known for their indiscriminate nature, poses an extreme risk to civilians, as they are often buried or scattered across conflict zones, leading to long-term dangers long after hostilities cease.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin clarified that the mines will be deployed strategically, away from densely populated areas, with expectations regarding their usage underlining concerns for responsible deployment practices. He asserted that the U.S. mines are of a safer design than those being developed by Ukraine, as they are labeled "non-persistent" and will lose their capability to detonate after some days.
In response to the U.S. announcement, the Halo Trust, an international charity focused on landmine clearing, expressed alarm over the potential for landmines to proliferate in Eastern Europe. Their recent estimates suggest that a staggering two million landmines have been deployed in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The organization has reclassified Ukraine as "massively contaminated" with landmines, indicating that these explosives could be present in up to 40% of the country.
As this administration prepares to leave office, policymakers are evaluating their military strategies to support Ukraine against Russian aggression. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba defended the U.S. decision as compliant with international law, while acknowledging the moral complexities faced by human rights advocates in the current context of warfare.
The discourse surrounding the U.S. decision encapsulates the tension between military strategy and humanitarian principles as the conflict in Ukraine continues to unfold.
Mary Wareham, the director of Human Rights Watch, described the U.S. decision as a "shocking and devastating development" for those dedicated to eradicating landmines. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) echoed those sentiments, condemning the U.S. move "in the strongest possible terms." Tamar Gabelnick, director of ICBL, emphasized that these types of weapons, banned by the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty due to their catastrophic impact on civilian lives, should not be acquired, stockpiled, or used by Ukraine as a state party.
While international law does not prohibit the use of landmines, over 160 countries have signed the Mine Ban Treaty committing to eliminating their production and usage. Despite being a signatory to the treaty, Ukraine's application to it has been deemed "limited" since the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Human Rights Watch's Wareham highlighted the significant progress made over the past 25 years under the international treaty and emphasized the troubling nature of the U.S.'s recent decision. The use of anti-personnel landmines, known for their indiscriminate nature, poses an extreme risk to civilians, as they are often buried or scattered across conflict zones, leading to long-term dangers long after hostilities cease.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin clarified that the mines will be deployed strategically, away from densely populated areas, with expectations regarding their usage underlining concerns for responsible deployment practices. He asserted that the U.S. mines are of a safer design than those being developed by Ukraine, as they are labeled "non-persistent" and will lose their capability to detonate after some days.
In response to the U.S. announcement, the Halo Trust, an international charity focused on landmine clearing, expressed alarm over the potential for landmines to proliferate in Eastern Europe. Their recent estimates suggest that a staggering two million landmines have been deployed in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The organization has reclassified Ukraine as "massively contaminated" with landmines, indicating that these explosives could be present in up to 40% of the country.
As this administration prepares to leave office, policymakers are evaluating their military strategies to support Ukraine against Russian aggression. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba defended the U.S. decision as compliant with international law, while acknowledging the moral complexities faced by human rights advocates in the current context of warfare.
The discourse surrounding the U.S. decision encapsulates the tension between military strategy and humanitarian principles as the conflict in Ukraine continues to unfold.
