Five Nato countries neighbouring Russia or its ally, Belarus, have announced that they are to opt out of the Ottawa treaty of 1997. This treaty bans the use by signatories of anti-personnel (AP) landmines. These states – Poland, Finland, Lithuania,
Estonia and Latvia – now have plans to create a 2,000-mile stretch of mined areas as part of a defensive effort against any possible attack from Russia. The move to create such minefields comes as the result of both a recognition of the perceived growing threat from Russia and of the important defensive effect – as proved during the current Ukraine war – that both AP and anti-tank (AT) landmines can generate.
Read more…
Source: The Conversation News
Sign up for the Counter-IED Report Newsletters
The latest news and insights delivered right to your inbox
Related:
- UK: Exmouth bomb safely removed as workers praised
January 16, 2026
The bomb dredged out of Exmouth Marina on Wednesday, January 14, has been safely removed. A 100-metre cordon was initially set up around the area, with properties in the area evacuated. This cordon was later extended to 400m. In an update on Thursday night, the cordon has been expanded to 600 metres, as a further 500 ...
- UK: Homes evacuated after ‘bomb’ discovered in Plymouth
January 15, 2026
Police have provided an update following the evacuation triggered by a ‘bomb’ discovered at a construction site, which currently cannot be rendered safe. The suspected explosive was unearthed near Plymouth city centre shortly before midday on Wednesday, January 14, prompting the establishment of a safety cordon and the evacuation of nearby homes. Royal Navy bomb disposal ...
- Belgium: DOVO responds to street explosive discovery in Antwerp Zurenborg
January 15, 2026
An explosive device found on Ramstraat in the Zurenborg neighbourhood prompted immediate intervention by the DOVO bomb disposal service and local police. The Flemish government’s DOVO (Dienst voor Opruiming en Vernietiging van Ontploffingstuigen) dispatched a specialised team from their Mechelen headquarters 25 kilometres away. The unit arrived within 28 minutes carrying protective suits, x-ray scanners, and ...
- EU unveils €90 billion defence-focused loan to Ukraine
January 14, 2026
The European Commission formally presented a €90 billion loan package to Ukraine on Wednesday, as Brussels races to support Kyiv’s war effort amid increasingly fierce Russian attacks and US-led efforts to end the war. Two-thirds of the package will be used to provide military assistance to Ukraine, which could involve procuring weapons and ammunition from outside ...
- Finland’s withdrawal from Ottawa Convention to take effect
January 10, 2026
Finland’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention will take effect on 10 January. Finland remains committed to the humanitarian objectives of the Ottawa Convention. Finland’s decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention was based on an assessment of Finland’s defence needs in the deteriorated security environment. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has profoundly changed ...
- Ukraine: $70M in Taxpayer Money Stolen by Land Mine Company
January 9, 2026
A Ukrainian company contracted to manufacture critically needed land- and anti-personnel mines for the front pocketed nearly Hr.3 billion ($69.8 million) in taxpayer money and instead sent small volumes of munitions that frequently failed to function and sometimes blew up as troops handled them, a senior Kyiv law enforcement official announced Friday. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan ...
- UK allocates $270 million to prepare for possible Ukraine deployment
January 9, 2026
Britain said it was allocating 200 million pounds ($270 million) to fund preparations for the possible deployment of troops to Ukraine, after pledging its soldiers this week to a multinational force for the country in the event of a ceasefire. Visiting the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday, British defence minister John Healey said the money would ...
- UK: Man who blew up cash machine jailed for eight years
January 8, 2026
A would-be robber who blew up a cash machine with explosives has been jailed for eight years, police have said. Detectives investigating the attempted theft of cash from an ATM in Powburn, Northumberland, in May found explosive devices when they raided Kristopher Follos’s home. Dramatic CCTV images showed the 45-year-old trying to blast his way into ...
- Ukraine moves to digital planning of humanitarian demining
January 7, 2026
In 2026, humanitarian demining of Ukraine’s deoccupied territories will be planned using a new approach – leveraging modern digital solutions. This was discussed at the final meeting of the National Mine Action Authority, chaired by Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Mykola Shevtsov. A key innovation was the presentation of a digital platform developed ...
- UK: ‘Wartime bomb’ discovered near Birmingham New Street line
January 6, 2026
Train services heading out of Birmingham have been disrupted following the discovery of a ‘wartime bomb’ near the railway, impacting CrossCountry services, according to traffic monitoring service Inrix. West Midlands Police has confirmed that an old mortar device has been found at Duddeston Mill Trading Estate in Washwood Heath. An evacuation has been carried out, with a ...
- German prosecutors launch terrorism probe into far-left attack behind Berlin blackout
January 6, 2026
A far-left group claimed responsibility for an arson attack on Berlin’s power grid, causing a blackout for tens of thousands of households. Repairs are expected by Thursday. German federal prosecutors on Tuesday launched an investigation on terrorism charges into an arson attack on high-voltage cables that caused a power blackout impacting 45,000 Berlin households. The service ...
- UK: Controlled explosion after object found at Medmerry beach
January 4, 2026
A controlled explosion was carried out after a suspected piece of ordnance was found on a beach. Selsey Coastguard was called to Medmerry Beach at 6.21pm on Sunday, January 4, 2026, following reports of a suspicious object. The coastguard team took photos of the object and sent them to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team. On ...
- Ukraine: Car explosion in Kyiv classified as terrorist attack
January 4, 2026
A car explosion that occurred in the courtyard of a residential building on Heroiv Dnipra Street in Kyiv on January 4, when the trunk was opened, has been classified as a terrorist attack, and a pre-trial investigation has been launched. As a result of the explosion, a serviceman sustained shrapnel wounds. A woman who was nearby ...
- Italy: Unexploded bomb found on the street in Olbia
January 2, 2026
A “pipe bomb” was found this morning on the edge of the roadway of a street in the center of Olbia . A citizen reported its presence and called 112 to alert the police. When the Carabinieri officers arrived on the scene, they determined that it was a remnant from New Year’s Eve, most likely an ...
- UK: Teenager detained on mental health grounds after suspected ‘modified fireworks’ found in Blackpool.
January 1, 2026
The 16-year-old from Blackpool was earlier arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act, but has now been detained under the Mental Health Act following a further assessment. It comes after police found a quantity of items of concern after attending an address on Gloucester Avenue at about 11.30am yesterday (Wednesday, December 31). Read more… Source: The ...