Additional Coverage:
Kyiv Considers Withdrawal from Landmine Treaty Following Massive Russian Aerial Assault
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree Monday initiating the process of withdrawing Ukraine from the Ottawa Convention, an international treaty banning anti-personnel landmines. This move requires parliamentary approval before becoming official.
Zelenskyy cited Russia’s “cynical” use of these weapons, both historically and in the ongoing conflict, as the reason for the decision. He accused Russia, which is not a signatory to the treaty, of employing landmines as a standard tactic “to destroy life by all methods at their disposal.”
The decree follows what Ukrainian officials have described as the largest aerial attack of the war to date. Russia reportedly launched 537 aerial weapons, including drones, decoys, and missiles, at targets across Ukraine.
While Ukrainian air defenses successfully neutralized a significant portion of the attack, casualties were reported in several regions. Among the reported losses was a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet, which crashed after engaging enemy aircraft.
The pilot was killed.
Ukraine’s potential withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention highlights the devastating impact of landmines in the ongoing conflict. Liberated areas of Ukraine have been found riddled with these devices, posing a significant threat to both returning civilians and military personnel.