Joe Biden has agreed to give Ukraine anti-personnel land mines in an attempt to slow Russian troops in eastern parts of the country, a US defence official has claimed
The US has made another huge move to support Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression before Donald Trump gets back into power in January.
Days after Joe Biden authorised Ukraine to use US-supplied long-range missiles against Russia, he also agreed to give the country anti-personnel land mines, a US defence official has claimed. The move is considered an attempt to slow Russian troops who have been steadily advancing in eastern Ukraine in recent months.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the mines would be delivered soon. They added that Washington expected the mines to be used on Ukraine’s territory.
However, the official told the BBC that Ukraine was committed to not using the mines in densely-populated areas. The provision of anti-personnel land mines is the latest move by Biden to help Ukraine’s war effort before Trump gets back into the White House.
Russia has deployed landmines since the start of its war against Ukraine in February 2022, but the Biden administration had not given its authorisation to Ukraine to use it over fears that they pose a risk to civilians. But the US defence official said Ukraine has now pledged to use only mines that remained active for a limited period of time.
It comes after Ukraine targeted Russia with six ATACMS long-range missiles from the US for the first time overnight between Monday and Tuesday. The strike hit a military facility near the city of Karachev, in the region of Bryansk Oblast, which is located about 130km – 80 miles – from the Ukrainian border overnight. Initially, the strike was reported by a source linked to the Ukrainian Defence Forces, but the Russian Defence Ministry later confirmed it too.
The source said: “Indeed, ATACMS was used for the first time to strike the territory of the Russian Federation. The strike was carried out on a facility in the Bryansk region, it was successfully destroyed.” The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck six missiles – of which five were shot down and one “damaged”.
Fragments of a damaged ATACMS missile launched by the Ukrainian Armed Forces fell on the “technical territory” of a military facility in Bryansk region, the ministry admitted, and a fire ignited. No casualties have been reported.
Earlier today, the US embassy in Kyiv said it has closed after receiving “specific information” about Russian air attack. The embassy said it would temporarily close its doors amid concerns Russian President Vladimir Putin could order an attack against the Ukrainian capital.
In a post on X, formerly called Twittecr, the US State Department said: “Ukraine: The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv received specific information of a potential significant air attack on Nov 20. The Embassy will be closed and recommends U.S. citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced.” The embassy announced on its website that the move was “out of an abundance of caution.” Embassy employees have been told to shelter in place.
