**US Sends Anti-Personnel Mines to Ukraine**
The US government has approved the sending of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine. This move is expected to help slow down Russia’s advance in eastern Ukraine, according to reports from the Washington Post and other outlets.
This decision follows the US authorization of long-range missile strikes against Russian territory. Ukraine has not officially confirmed these claims, but recent reports suggest that Ukrainian forces have deployed US-made ATACMS missiles in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast.
The transfer of anti-personnel mines is a sensitive issue, as it contradicts the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use of such mines. The US and Russia are not signatories to this treaty.
**Background**
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the US has been supplying Ukraine with anti-tank mines. Ukrainian forces have been seeking to obtain infantry mines for three years. However, Moscow has used anti-personnel mines freely on the front lines, hindering the progress of the Ukrainian military.
**US Concerns**
The Biden administration was initially hesitant to supply Ukraine with mines due to concerns about civilian safety and doubts within the administration. However, Washington is now worried about Russia’s rapid advance in eastern Ukraine and sees the need to stop it.
A US official told the Washington Post that Russia is attacking Ukrainian lines with waves of troops, regardless of casualties. The official said that the mines were made specifically to combat this type of situation.
**Safety Measures**
To reduce the risk to civilians, the US has provided “non-resistant” mines that self-destruct or lose battery power within days or weeks. One US official described these mines as non-threatening. Ukraine has committed to not installing these mines in densely populated areas.
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