US Defense Secretary explains decision to send anti-personnel mines to Ukraine

The Biden administration’s decision to send anti-personnel mines to Ukraine for the first time was prompted by a shift in Russian tactics on the battlefield.

As reported by CNN, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austinnoted that Russian forces have been so unsuccessful in their combat operations that they have altered their tactics.

"They don’t lead with their mechanised forces anymore. They lead with dismounted forces who are able to close and do things to kind of pave the way for mechanised forces," he said.

Austin highlighted the need for Ukrainian forces to have "things that can help slow down that effort."

While the US has provided Ukraine with anti-tank mines since the start of the full-scale war in 2022, the decision to supply anti-personnel mines marks another significant shift in Biden’s administration policy.

"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." 

He stressed the importance of Ukraine responsibly recording the locations where these mines are deployed.

Media reports previously revealed that US President Joe Biden approved the delivery of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, which could help strengthen Ukraine’s defences against Russian advances.

Additionally, reports indicate that the US plans to send Ukraine interceptor missiles for Patriot and NASAMS air defence systems, with sufficient supplies expected to last until the end of the year.