Ukraine preparing to produce anti-personnel landmines after leaving Ottawa Convention
Photo: Fedir Venislavskyi (Getty Images)
Ukraine has decided to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines. Ukrainian manufacturers are already preparing to launch domestic production, Media Center Ukraine reports, citing Fedir Venislavskyi, Representative of the President of Ukraine to the Verkhovna Rada, Member of the Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, and People's Deputy.
According to him, once the Ottawa Convention is denounced, both private and state-owned companies will be able to begin producing anti-personnel landmines.
"Our country is capable of establishing its own production of anti-personnel landmines and purchasing them from countries that have not ratified the convention. Preparations for the production of such deterrent systems in Ukraine are already underway," Venislavskyi said.
He noted that anti-personnel landmines would serve as both defensive barriers and a deterrent to enemy forces. They will be deployed with mapped minefields, which will allow for swift demining once combat operations conclude.
Withdrawal from the convention
On June 29, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree officially withdrawing Ukraine from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines. He also instructed officials to take immediate action.
Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs later provided a detailed explanation for why the country is abandoning the restrictions on landmines.
Ukraine is not the first country to take such a step in response to the threat from Russia. Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Finland have already made similar decisions.
