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-led coalition to give Ukraine 100 million pound mine-clearing support package
October 11, 2023
A British-led group of European countries will provide Ukraine with a 100 million pound ($122.70 million) package to support its armed forces including equipment to clear minefields. Britain’s defence ministry on Wednesday said Ukraine was “now the most mined country on earth,” which had become an obstacle in its counter-offensive this year, and that mine clearing ...
- IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine – Update 187
October 11, 2023
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts were today granted access to the rooftop of reactor unit 2 of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and did not observe any mines or explosives there, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. From the top of the building, the IAEA team could also observe the entire rooftop of its ...
- Ireland: Bomb squad carries out controlled explosion in south Dublin
October 10, 2023
Dublin residents in the Sandymount / Ringsend area were shocked this evening as army bomb disposal experts and gardaí rushed to the scene of a discovery which required a controlled explosion. A statement from an Garda Síochána this evening said: “Gardaí were alerted to the discovery of a device at a premises on the Pigeon House ...
- Turkish soldier succumbs to wounds from IED explosion in northern Iraq
October 10, 2023
A Turkish soldier, who was wounded in an explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) in northern Iraq, succumbed to his injuries, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said Tuesday. The explosion of the IED planted by terrorists in Türkiye’s anti-terror Operation Claw zone had severely injured Infantry Specialist Sergeant Mustafa Cakmak, the ministry said in a ...
- NATO bomb disposal training now crucial part of Ukraine military support
October 9, 2023
An annual exercise aimed at showing recruits how to get rid of explosive devices took part in Iceland. A NATO mission training soldiers in bomb disposal, used in conflicts throughout the world, is now a crucial part of the multi-national exercises supporting the Ukrainian military. “Here we’re trying to give all the EOD teams the experience ...
- UNICEF donates 15 mobile safety classes to Ukraine to raise public awareness of mine threats
October 9, 2023
UNICEF handed over 15 mobile security classes to the State Emergency Service and the National Police to raise public awareness of mine threats, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. “We are starting to implement an initiative to raise public awareness of mines and other threats, in particular in de-occupied and front-line territories. These are specially equipped vehicles ...
- UK: ‘Cyber terrorist’ who hid data on James Bond-style cufflink refused parole
October 7, 2023
A “cyber terrorist” who was jailed after hiding his support for the so-called Islamic State on a James Bond-style cufflink has been refused parole. Samata Ullah, then 34, created a “one-stop shop” for terrorists from his bedroom in Cardiff, offering a range of guidance on how to stay one step ahead of police and security ...
- Northern Ireland: Woman and children left shaken after ‘petrol bomb’ attack in Londonderry
October 6, 2023
A woman and three children have been left shaken after a car was set alight outside a house in Londonderry. It happened in the Clon Elagh area on Thursday night. Police said they believe a petrol bomb type device was thrown into the boot of the vehicle which was parked in the driveway. Read more… Source: ITV News
- Sweden: Explosion in Stockholm ‘connected to Foxtrot dispute’
October 5, 2023
An explosion which ripped through a house north of Stockholm on Thursday morning appears linked to the conflict within the Foxtrot gang, the Expressen newspaper has reported. Explosive devices were placed either inside or at the entrance of the house in Kungsängen in the municipality of Upplands-Bro on Thursday morning, with police spokesperson Daniel Wikdahl saying ...
- Ukraine: Cheap drones rigged with explosives have become the leading anti-tank weapon against Russian forces
October 5, 2023
Cheap drones rigged with explosive devices have become extremely prominent and have emerged as the leading anti-tank weapon for the Ukrainian military in Russia’s war against it. A Ukrainian officer told The Washington Post in a report published on Wednesday that first-person-view (FPV) drones, which are operated remotely with the use of a controller and headset, ...
- IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine – Update 186
October 4, 2023
In a significant development for the IAEA’s mission at the site, Director General Grossi said the Agency had taken delivery of armoured vehicles acquired with extra-budgetary support from Japan. In addition, funding from Germany has enabled the IAEA to hire drivers and security personnel for these rotations. The new IAEA team continues to request access to ...
- EU confirms readiness to support Ukraine in mine clearance
October 4, 2023
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine has held a meeting with a delegation of the Foreign Policy Instruments Service of the European Commission, headed by Director Peter Wagner, dedicated to mine clearance issues, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported. “Today, on October 4, a delegation of the Foreign Policy Instruments Service ...
- Ukrainian Heavy Bomber Drones Drop Anti-Tank Mines
October 4, 2023
The TM-62 anti-tank mine has been one of the signature weapons in the Russia-Ukraine war. Buried or just scattered on the surface in vast numbers, the 24-pound mine has slowed attacks by both Russian and Ukrainian forces, disabling many tanks and other vehicles. Now videos show the mine being used in a way never envisaged by ...
- IAEA Training Centre for Nuclear Security Opens Doors to Build Expertise in Countering Nuclear Terrorism
October 3, 2023
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) opened today a unique nuclear security training centre, the first international facility of its type, to support the growing efforts to tackle global nuclear terrorism. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi officially opened the IAEA Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre during a ceremony at the Agency’s Seibersdorf laboratories ...
- Hungarian Major General takes over the Command of EUFOR in BiH
October 3, 2023
Hungarian Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky confirmed today that the command of the EUFOR Althea mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be taken over by Major General Laszlo Sticz from January 1, 2024, and announced the reinforcement of the mission with additional forces during the next year. Hungarian Armed Forces will contribute to the Althea mission through ...