By John Q. Hosedrinker 
President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree to withdraw Ukraine from the Ottawa Convention, following similar moves by the Baltic nations and Poland. This decision stems from the ongoing conflict, as Russia has been extensively using anti-personnel mines, impacting both soldiers and civilians. The withdrawal allows Ukraine to potentially employ these weapons, mirroring the actions of neighboring countries preparing for a possible escalation in the war. The decree still needs parliamentary approval, and the exact date of implementation remains uncertain.
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Zelensky signs decree to withdraw from Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines, lawmaker says, and honestly, this is a tough one to digest. It really is. It seems to boil down to a tragic choice between two undesirable outcomes. On one hand, you have the Ottawa Convention, a treaty that aimed to ban these insidious weapons, the anti-personnel mines. These are the kinds of mines that can maim or kill long after a conflict is over, posing a constant threat to civilians, including children, for generations. I recall the moving commercial of a victim with a blown off leg walking to the legislature with various walk of life people supporting her. It was really moving and it’s easy to understand the sentiment behind banning something that causes such devastating harm.
On the other hand, you have the brutal reality of a country under siege. Ukraine is fighting for its very survival against an invading force that, frankly, seems to have little regard for any rules of engagement, any standards of civilized warfare. Russia, it’s clear, is using anti-personnel mines, along with a litany of other abhorrent tactics. They’re using them indiscriminately. They’re planting them in occupied territories. They are leaving them behind. And to add insult to injury, they’re targeting civilian infrastructure and murdering civilians. This is a genocidal enemy. So, in a situation like this, is Ukraine really in a position to tie its hands behind its back?
Considering the circumstances, it’s understandable that Ukraine is looking at every available tool to defend itself. The idea of using mines is undoubtedly a difficult one. I get it. The concern for future generations, the potential for long-term suffering, is legitimate. But the immediate priority, the absolutely paramount concern, is preventing the complete destruction of Ukraine and the loss of lives today. The children of today must survive so that future generations can exist. I do not doubt that if Russia withdraws from Ukraine, President Zelenskyy would rejoin the Ottawa Convention.
The debate, of course, hinges on several critical factors. Modern anti-personnel mines are designed to self-destruct after a certain period. However, there are real concerns about the reliability of these mechanisms and the potential for these mines to fail to deactivate. Also, the reality is that the ground is already poisoned by Russian mines, and there will be extensive mine clearing needed regardless. There is the painful reality that Russia is using mines indiscriminately anyway.
The argument that the only practical difference is that without the pact, both sides use mines, rather than just one side, carries significant weight. It’s true, and Russia’s blatant disregard for any agreements or international norms means that they aren’t playing by the rules. They’ve already mined vast swathes of Ukrainian territory. To add to this is the fact that Russia is not concerned about what happens after.
Many consider the question of how does the Ottawa Pact change this? The Ottawa Convention offers little protection when the enemy is using mines anyway and shows zero respect for the lives of Ukrainian civilians. The grim reality is that Ukraine is facing a truly existential threat. They are staring down an enemy that doesn’t care about the rules, an enemy that is committing atrocities on a massive scale.
Of course, it’s not an ideal scenario. Far from it. Using landmines will undoubtedly have a terrible legacy. There is no denying the fact that there will be children dying from these mines for generations to come. But at the moment, it’s a matter of survival. It’s about defending their land and protecting their people from a force that is intent on destroying them. There are no good choices here, just a brutal calculation of what is necessary for Ukraine to survive.