Biden Administration Approves Ukraine’s Use of Anti-Personnel Mines

“The decision is the latest in a series of moves by the U.S. and Russia that have escalated tensions between the two.

Nov. 20, 2024, 9:23 a.m. ET

A Ukrainian soldier outside Toretsk, in October. The Biden administration has approved supplying Ukraine with anti-personnel mines to bolster defenses against Russia’s increasing reliance on foot soldiers to lead their assaults.Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

The Biden administration has approved supplying Ukraine with American anti-personnel mines to bolster defenses against Russian attacks as Ukrainian front lines in the country’s east have buckled, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday.

The decision is the latest in a series of moves by Russia and the United States related to the war in Ukraine that have escalated tensions between the two.

The White House recently granted permission to Ukraine to fire longer-range American missiles at targets in Russia, which the Ukrainians did for the first time on Tuesday. Moscow in response formalized a new doctrine lowering the threshold for when it would use nuclear weapons.

Mr. Austin said the U.S. decision was prompted by Russia’s increasing reliance on foot soldiers to lead their assaults, instead of armored vehicles. Mr. Austin, speaking to reporters while traveling in Laos, said the shift in policy follows changing tactics by the Russians. Because of that, Ukraine has “a need for things that can help slow down that effort on the part of the Russians,” Mr. Austin said.

“They’ve asked for these, and so I think it’s a good idea,” Mr. Austin said.

Helene Cooper is a Pentagon correspondent. She was previously an editor, diplomatic correspondent and White House correspondent. More about Helene Cooper”