Exclusive: President Joe Biden has authorized the provision of antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine, two U.S. officials said, a step that will bolster Kyiv’s defenses against advancing Russian troops but has drawn criticism from arms control groups.
Comments
Log in with your Bluesky account to leave a comment
Ukraine planting mines that they know where they are, on their own territory, to defend themselves from being slaughtered or enslaved, is a perfect use case, for antipersonnel mines.
You guys should just prewrite the piece decrying the senseless deaths of hundreds of Ukrainians from unspent mines over the next decade, save yourself the trouble.
A terrible, necessary evil, unfortunately. I trust Ukraine to know what’s best for their country right now, and I trust that they will do everything necessary to de-mine the areas at the conclusion of the war because—unlike in Russia—the Ukrainian government actually cares about its own people.
I wonder why Ukraine still needs US to supply landmines - they are low tech, easy to produce, and highly effective against the Russian meat waves. They should produce this massively just like producing drones and shells.
So extremely disappointed in Biden and the US military for adding "smart mines" to the potential killers of future children and farming. Disgusted that these are even a weapon we have. They are only slightly less savage mines with absolutely no surety.
I'm grateful the administration is doing everything they can to help. I wish we could've done more. We have a Russian admin. coming into office in 2 months, let's turn down the heat a bit, yeah?
I'd go so far as to say we hardly did anything. I know we "gave" the most out of any country. I just mean all we've done is lined the American war complex with $ that's all Congress was able to agree on. They needed wepons and more, but we failed as the protectors of freedom.
Where were the "arms controll groups" ín 2022, when russia started this barbaric genocidal invasion and shelling cities with cluster munitions? Never heard of them.
Why now? Why not 800 days ago? This has been going on for 1000 days with no effort put into resolution? What secrets is Brandon trying to keep hidden? He won’t be happy until the whole world is on fire! If you think this is good consider that Russia and China have both been in our airspaces recently
I'd blast the hell out of Russia for the next two months including wiping out all those bastards from North Korea. I'd do as much damage to Russia as possible before Jan 20.
As much as I support Ukraine, here is yet another sad example
of the US taking a position that the international community has rejected as unethical. Surely land mines can't be the only supportive step available to us.
The USA is not a signatory to the treaty that prevents landmines, neither is Ukraine or russia.
Do you expect Russia to stop using landmines? Do you expect Ukraine to reduce the effectiveness of its defence and the increase in its casualty rate because other countries don't use mines?
I think arms control groups who speak out against countries defensively mining their own territories are assholes who should be ignored by said countries.
When you "defensively mine your own territories" what ends up happening is your own people get blown up by the mines during and especially after the war.
Yep. They’re indiscriminate. There’s a reason most countries signed onto a treaty to ban them. This is prob the biggest disappointment I’ve had with Biden.
A great mindset for never learning a single lesson no matter how many innocent people get killed, have you considered applying for a job at the State Department?
Would you prefer A) Ukraine mines it's own land and those mines play a part in preventing russia conquering Ukraine, or B) russia takes Ukraine and continues it's oppression/genocide of the Ukrainian people.
This seems like hyperbole but it's what Ukraine faces
Land mine removal in conflict zones was a pretty big deal when I was a kid, my impression is that they stick around to cause suffering for years/decades after the war is over. This seems like a step backward from the perspective of a '90s kid who saw a lot of commercials about this
Not am I, it just seems that anything to slow down or stop Russian advancement would seem to be an advantage for Ukraine, especially leading up to the inauguration. I fear for Ukraine.
They're primarily the reason why the frontlines have stabilized so much for the last year or so. Nobody can go anywhere without hitting a mine, and mine clearing takes a lot of work and can only be done if the area is secured.
maybe the defense people in the government of Ukraine are both experts, and also representatives of the people who'd like to not be invaded and destroyed? and we on the outside can just pipe down
Trump’s power, paired with alliances like the richest man in the world, thrives while serious allegations—sexual assault, classified docs misuse, and Jan. 6 incitement—go unanswered. Democrats failed to deliver justice. We focus on policy, ignoring his aim to dismantle and exploit the system.
Why would Russia have the right to plant mines and fortify the territory it illegally conquered, whereas Ukraine, to please the O.N.G.s and the arms control groups, should accept to be decimated?? The critics should go themselves on the front..
There will be time to take out the mines.. some day.
In the meantime the land will be denied to farmers, children will lose their legs and noone will be any the better off. When we banned landmines back in the day, even the military agreed it was a shit weapon for civilians
I have confidence that the Ukrainians know what they are doing; those mines, strategically placed, will be a formidable barrier against advancing enemies.
The time for "niceties" is long past - Ukraine is fighting for her survival.
He always was. Biden was a blue dog racist warmonger, his besties in the Senate were McCain and Graham. Wall St and AIPAC forced Biden on the ticket with Obama and suddenly Biden was magically transformed into a "progressive".
Comments
And then handing over the burning wreck that is the US to Trump and then all liberals will blame Trump for the war Biden has escalated.
Well done Biden.
The US should NOT be supplying arms to other countries
of the US taking a position that the international community has rejected as unethical. Surely land mines can't be the only supportive step available to us.
I hear they have cutting edge soda bottle prosthetics awaiting them though
I could ask, why wasn't the people who want Ukraine to lose left at the other site
Do you expect Russia to stop using landmines? Do you expect Ukraine to reduce the effectiveness of its defence and the increase in its casualty rate because other countries don't use mines?
This seems like hyperbole but it's what Ukraine faces
There will be time to take out the mines.. some day.
The time for "niceties" is long past - Ukraine is fighting for her survival.
notes***, civilian reservists and prison conscripts.