By John Q. Hosedrinker 
President Zelenskyy has signed a decree for Ukraine to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, a treaty prohibiting the use of anti-personnel landmines. The decree, which also mandates immediate action to implement the decision, originates from the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. Notably, this move follows similar actions by Poland, Lithuania, and Finland, and does not mention the Verkhovna Rada’s involvement, although a vote may be required. Ukraine joined the convention in 1999, with ratification occurring in 2005.
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Zelenskyy pulls Ukraine out of landmine treaty as war reshapes defense policy is a move that, frankly, doesn’t come as a surprise. It’s a harsh reality of this conflict, and others like it. The decision signals a significant shift in Ukraine’s defense strategy, and it’s completely understandable when you consider the current situation. Ukraine is in a fight for its very survival, and when facing an enemy that disregards the rules of engagement, it’s hard to fault them for adapting.
The fact that Ukraine is now following suit is part of a larger trend in the region. Countries like Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are all either out of the treaty or in the process of leaving it. The war has fundamentally altered the security landscape of Eastern Europe, and nations are recalibrating their defense postures accordingly. The only nation sharing a land border with Russia that’s still in the treaty is Norway, and that’s because their border is largely in the Arctic, with a relatively small amount of navigable land, making it somewhat easier to defend without resorting to widespread landmine use.
It’s important to acknowledge the brutal effectiveness of landmines in modern warfare. They’ve proven to be a formidable area denial tool, particularly when a defending force is outnumbered. They force the enemy into specific areas, creating choke points where they can be more easily engaged. It’s a grim reality, but landmines can significantly slow down or even halt an offensive. The role landmines played in impeding the first summer offensive of the Russian forces, as some reports have pointed out, underscores their tactical importance.
Of course, this decision isn’t without consequences. The humanitarian aspect is undeniable. Landmines inflict horrific injuries and can cause lasting psychological trauma. Their presence continues to endanger civilians long after the fighting has ceased. However, when a nation’s survival is on the line, those considerations, as heart-breaking as they are, sometimes take a backseat. It’s a brutal calculation, but one that’s unfortunately a common occurrence in armed conflicts.
If landmines are deployed, meticulous record-keeping is absolutely crucial. Accurate maps and detailed logs of mine placement are essential to minimize civilian casualties and make post-war demining efforts more manageable. Advanced GPS technology offers incredible precision. Survey-grade GPS units can pinpoint the location of a mine with centimeter-level accuracy. This kind of precision is essential for future removal efforts.
The moral argument is a complex one. Many people believe in upholding international treaties and adhering to the rules of war. But the reality is that such treaties are only effective if both sides abide by them. When one party disregards those rules, as Russia has demonstrably done, the other is left with a difficult choice: adhere to the rules and potentially lose the war, or adapt and fight on a more equal footing, even if it means employing less humane tactics.
It’s a stark and difficult situation to contemplate. But Ukraine’s primary responsibility is to defend its people and its territory. It would be naïve to expect them to handicap themselves in the face of an aggressive enemy. The use of landmines is a symptom of the barbaric nature of this war, not a cause of it.
The current situation only reinforces the need for all countries to be able to ensure their own safety. The world is in constant conflict, with some countries seeking to gain power and resources at the expense of others. Russia’s actions have shown that international treaties can be disregarded, forcing countries like Ukraine to reassess their defensive strategies.
In the end, war is a devastating reality. It inflicts suffering on all sides, and the use of landmines is just one of the many tragic aspects of armed conflict. It’s a stark reminder that the pursuit of peace requires a constant vigilance and a willingness to adapt to the realities of an unstable world.