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:
- Ukraine: Sweden sending 250 mine detectors to search for landmines scattered after Kakhovka dam flooding
June 15, 2023
Sweden has sent 250 mine detectors to Ukraine to eliminate the consequences of Russia’s destruction of the Kakhovka dam, Sweden’s Ministry of Defense reported on June 14. The equipment sent by Stockholm was intended for civilian mine clearance, said Swedish Minister for Civil Defense Carl-Oskar Bohlin. Read more… Source: The New Voice of Ukraine
- US to provide depleted-uranium tank rounds to Ukraine
June 14, 2023
The United States is expected to approve the transfer of depleted-uranium anti-tank shells to help Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion, according to The Wall Street Journal. The move follows weeks of internal discussions on the subject between the White House and the Pentagon, the WSJ reported on Tuesday. Read more… Source: Polskie Radio
- Landmine Use in Ukraine
June 13, 2023
This background briefing surveys the types of landmines used in Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022. Antipersonnel mines explode by the presence, proximity, or contact of a person, and can kill and injure people long after armed conflicts end. The 1997 Mine Ban Treaty prohibits antipersonnel mines, but not antivehicle mines ...
- UK: Man jailed after witness reports bomb making manuals on laptop
June 12, 2023
Today (12/6) Asad Bhatti of Holland Close, Redhill was handed an eight year jail sentence following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE). The investigation began when it was reported to police that documents with suspicious titles about bomb making were slowing down a repair process being performed on his laptop. Although the witness ...
- U.S.-led NATO explosive ordnance disposal task unit demonstrates interoperability, readiness in exercise BALTOPS 23
June 12, 2023
Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) divers and technicians from Belgium, Denmark, France, Norway and the United States, assigned to NATO Task Unit 30, are participating in exercise Baltic Operations 2023 (BALTOPS 23) in Germany, Poland, and in the Baltic Sea, from June 5-16. Task Unit 30, led by Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 8, based in Rota, ...
- Türkiye: Five workers dead in rocket and explosives factory blast in Ankara
June 10, 2023
At least five workers died on Saturday in an explosion at a rocket and explosives factory in Türkiye’s capital Ankara, according to the country’s National Defense Ministry. “An explosion occurred at the MKE Rocket and Explosives Factory in the Elmadag district of Ankara. As a result of the explosion, five of our workers have been martyred,” ...
- Poland: Two men charged following theft of ammunition from a train in Lower Silesia
June 9, 2023
Four boxes of ammunition were stolen on Sunday from a special train operated by American soldiers, which had a stop in Węgliniec. The police detained in this case three residents of the Zgorzelec county aged 26, 34, 39 years. According to the uniformed thieves, they did not know what they were stealing and for fear of ...
- UK: Man appears in court accused of making ‘explosive substance for unlawful purpose’
June 8, 2023
A man has appeared in court charged with making an explosive substance for an unlawful purpose. David Prior is accused of making an explosive substance – namely ‘improvised explosive devices’ – between January 1 and June 2 this year. The 50-year-old appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court today (June 8). He spoke only to confirm his name ...
- Ukraine dam’s destruction increases mines threat – Red Cross
June 7, 2023
The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine will have a catastrophic effect on locating landmines in the affected region, the Red Cross warned Wednesday. “We knew where the hazards were,” said Erik Tollefsen, head of the Weapon Contamination Unit at the International Committee of the Red Cross. “Now we don’t know. “All we know is ...
- Ukraine expects to involve UNDP in demining
June 6, 2023
This was discussed during a meeting between First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko and UNDP Mine Action Coordinator in Ukraine Paul Heslop, the press service of the Ministry of Economy reports, according to Ukrinform. It is noted that during the meeting, the parties discussed ways to optimise the work of non-governmental operators, ...
- Croatian RAK-SA-12 now actively used in Ukrainian Armed Forces
June 6, 2023
The SBGS shared photos on their Facebook account, highlighting the 128-mm multiple launch rocket systems transferred by Croatia as part of military defense assistance. These mini-MLRS can unleash a barrage of 12 shells of a 128 mm caliber in just 9.6 seconds, providing a formidable defense capability. The newly released images feature not only the MLRS ...
- Ukraine says destruction of Kakhovka dam and flooding will not derail its counter-offensive
June 6, 2023
Kyiv has vowed that the destruction of the huge Nova Kakhovka dam and flooding of frontline areas in southeastern Ukraine will not derail its planned counter-offensive as it accused Russia’s occupation force of destroying the facility on the Dnipro river in a “panic”. The Kremlin denied responsibility for the breach early on Tuesday morning, and accused ...
- UK: Man charged under Explosive Substances Act after ‘hazardous materials’ found in house
June 3, 2023
A man has been charged under the Explosive Substances Act after ‘hazardous materials’ were found in a house in Reddish. A major incident was declared following the discovery on Middleton Road on Thursday (June 1). Bomb disposal experts, police officers, paramedics and firefighters responded. Read more… Source: Manchester Evening News
- Ukraine: To liberate territory, Ukraine must smash fortified Russian defenses
June 2, 2023
As Ukraine prepares to launch a long-trumpeted counterattack, the first obstacle its soldiers must push through isn’t Russia’s defenses. It’s their own. Like Russia, Ukraine has laid thousands of mines along its front line. And to advance into occupied territory, its troops now need to get through these lines without tipping off the Russians, who would ...
- Northern Ireland: New IRA in Derry ‘planned to use gun with silencer in attack on police’
June 1, 2023
A gun and silencer seized during a search operation targeting the New IRA in Londonderry were to be “used in a violent attack on police”, a detective has said. Detectives from the PSNI’s Terrorism Investigation Unit (TIU) recovered the suspected munitions during raids targeting the dissident republican group on Tuesday. A quantity of suspected ammunition was ...