US President Joe Biden decided to transfer anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, which caused a wave of criticism from international arms control organizations. This was reported by the Washington Post with reference to its own sources.
"More than 160 countries (Ukraine in particular - Ed.) have signed an international treaty prohibiting their use, noting that these indiscriminate weapons can cause long-term harm to the civilian population," the newspaper writes.
But the Biden administration wants to "help slow down Russia's offensive."
"Ukrainians are obviously suffering losses, and more and more cities and towns are at risk of falling. These mines were created specifically to combat exactly this," the presidential administration explained.
One of the officials said that the type of mines transferred was "non-permanent". They self-destruct or run out of battery, rendering them inactive for days or weeks, reducing the danger to civilians."
"The official said that Ukrainian politicians have undertaken not to install landmines in densely populated areas," the article says.
Previously, the United States supplied Ukraine with only claymore mines permitted by the conventions, which are installed above the ground and activated by the operator.
Human rights activists have already said that the US decision is a "black spot on Washington's reputation."
Human Rights Watch noted that even "permanent" mines pose a danger to civilians, require complex clearance measures and are not always reliably defused.
