Anti-personnel mines: War in Ukraine reignites debate and divides Europe

A decade ago, the widespread agreement to abandon anti-personnel mines, weapons notorious for harming civilians, was hailed as a significant international success. However, the ongoing war in Ukraine is now threatening to unravel this consensus, as attitudes toward these deadly devices begin to shift once more.

The devastating impact of these mines is tragically illustrated by cases like Rahila Bibi, who lost both her hands and whose siblings were severely injured in a mine explosion in 2020. Globally, thousands of people, predominantly civilians, fall victim to mines and explosive remnants of war each year. In 2025 alone, preliminary analysis indicated over 5,000 casualties, with children making up a staggering 90% of mine victims in South Sudan last year.

These insidious weapons pose a long-term threat, often designed to maim rather than kill, thereby tying up enemy resources. Decades after conflicts end, they continue to claim lives and cause severe injuries, as seen in the Balkans. The international pressure stemming from these tragedies led to the 1997 Ottawa Convention, where 121 nations pledged to renounce anti-personnel mines. To date, 166 states have joined, though major powers like the U.S., China, Russia, and India have not.

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It is a dangerous precedent that has been created by European countries themselves.

Recently, the international consensus has weakened. In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, five NATO members bordering Russia have withdrawn from the convention. Ukraine has also initiated withdrawal proceedings, which will take legal effect after the war. Simona Vizocki of the Frankfurt Peace Research Institute calls this a "dangerous precedent" set by European nations, potentially encouraging other countries facing security threats to follow suit and further weakening the convention's significance.

Ukraine justifies its move by pointing to Russia's non-adherence to the treaty and its use of mines on Ukrainian territory. "We cannot remain bound by restrictions while the enemy has no restrictions," stated Roman Kostenko, head of the Ukrainian parliament's defense committee, in 2025. The UN Mine Action Service estimates that approximately a quarter of Ukraine's territory may be mined, encompassing both Ukrainian-controlled and Russian-occupied areas.

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We cannot remain bound by restrictions while the enemy has no restrictions.