Ukraine Withdraws from the Ottawa Convention Amid Increasing Russian Mine Usage

Ukraine has announced that it will formally withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel mines.

The decision comes as a direct result of Russia’s extensive use of mines during the ongoing conflict.

A Military Necessity

According to Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, the withdrawal from the convention is not an easy decision, but rather a necessary response to Russia’s aggressive actions.

A member of parliament, Roman Kostenko, noted in an official statement that Ukraine has had to adjust its military strategy due to the enemy’s use of mines, even though Russia has never been part of the Ottawa Convention.

Historical Context

Ukraine joined the Ottawa Convention in February 1999 and possessed one of the world’s largest stockpiles of anti-personnel mines at the time, with over six million units.

Through a comprehensive effort over ten years, the majority of these mines were destroyed as required by the convention.

By 2020, almost the entire stockpile had been removed, except for a small number that the convention allows for training and research purposes.

The convention does, however, permit certain types of mines, such as the MON-50, to be used if they are manually detonated by an operator. It prohibits activation by tripwires or sensors that are triggered by a person.

International Trend

Ukraine’s decision follows a broader trend where countries like Finland, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have already announced their withdrawal from the convention earlier in 2025.

These nations also cited the current security climate and Russian aggression as the reason for their decision.

Ukraine’s formal withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention will take place six months after the country officially notifies the UN of its decision.

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