The decision by Ukraine to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, known as the Mine Ban Treaty, comes as no surprise given the gravity of the situation that the embattled Ukrainians find themselves in in this third year of all-out war. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine there has been constant domestic pressure on the government and on President Zelensky to withdraw from the treaty, mainly for protective pragmatic reasons and in light of the fact that Russia is not a signatory to the treaty and is a prolific user of landmines.  

The treaty of 1997 bans the use, production, stockpiling or transfer of anti-personnel landmines (APLs). It further requires signatory nations to destroy stockpiles and to clear laid minefields. Ukraine ratified the treaty in 2005. It is a fact that APLs are horrible things. They do not only maim and kill soldiers, but anyone who may approach including children and other non-combatants. They are extremely difficult and dangerous to clear up, and often render stretches of land unusable for many years. But they are extremely effective, particularly as a means of defence against an attacker.