Poland and the Baltic states said on Tuesday that they want to withdraw from an international treaty banning anti-personnel mines, citing Russia’s growing military threat. In a joint statement, the defence ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland said they “unanimously recommend withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention”.
The 1997 treaty — which prohibits the use, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines — has been ratified or acceded to by more than 160 countries. Russia has not joined the agreement, and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine has turned the war-torn country into the most mine-laden nation in the world, according to reports.
Read more…
Source: Euronews
Sign up for Counter-IED Report Newsletter
Related:
- Committing to anti-personnel mine ban saves civilian lives
June 27, 2022
The ICRC welcomes the changes to the United States anti-personnel landmine policy and its declared intention to be compliant with and ultimately accede to the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits their use. This is a positive step for protecting people affected by conflict around the world as anti-personnel landmines continue to kill and maim even when a ...
- Yemen: At least 689 mines removed in just one week
June 26, 2022
The Yemen’s Executive Center for Mine Action announced the removal of 689 mines, explosive devices and ammunition remnants of the US-Saudi-UAE aggression in several governorates within a week. The center explained that during the period from June 18 to 23, the center’s teams worked to clear an area of 33,386 square meters of war remnants, and ...
- Mali: eight Burkinabe peacekeepers wounded near Timbuktu
June 23, 2022
Eight peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) were wounded Thursday in the explosion of a mine in the Timbuktu region, plagued by violence by jihadist groups, the UN said. The wounded are part of the Burkinabe contingent of MINUSMA, a UN official told AFP on condition of anonymity. “A security patrol of peacekeepers ...
- Most land mine use by US military banned, except for Korea
June 21, 2022
President Joe Biden’s administration announced Tuesday that it would restrict the use of anti-personnel land mines by the U.S. military, aligning the country’s policy more closely with an international treaty banning the deadly explosives. “The president believes strongly that we need to curtail their use worldwide,” John Kirby, a national security spokesman, said at a White ...
- FACT SHEET: Changes to U.S. Anti-Personnel Landmine Policy
June 21, 2022
Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing important policy changes to U.S. Anti-Personnel Landmine policy. After conducting a comprehensive policy review, the United States is joining the vast majority of countries around the world in committing to limit the use of anti-personnel landmines (APL).These changes reflect the President’s belief that these weapons have disproportionate impact on ...
- Some 160,000 square km of territory of Ukraine require mine clearance operations
June 16, 2022
Around 160,000 square kilometers of the territory of Ukraine need to be examined for the presence of explosives, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar has said. “Some 160,000 square kilometers of the territory of Ukraine today need to be examined for the presence of explosives. A national agency for mine clearance operations has been set ...
- Landmines still a threat to more than a million Cambodians
June 15, 2022
More than one million people still live in fear and work in areas contaminated by landmines, ERW and other UXOs while financial support is needed so that the country can reach its mine-free goal by 2025, a senior official said. Ly Thuch, first vice-president of Cambodian Mine Action and Victims Assistance Authority, said yesterday that despite ...
- Syria: 11 killed by landmine explosion should draw attention to combating mines urgency
June 14, 2022
Eleven Syrian civilians have been killed and others injured due to a landmine explosion in their vehicle near the Daraa Governorate, southern Syria, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor expressed on Sunday with deep regret in a statement. A landmine from the remnants of war exploded Saturday when a pick-up truck carrying more than 35 civilians ran over ...
- Somalia: Double explosions kills at least 2 near Mogadishu
June 11, 2022
At least two people were killed and more than five others wounded late Friday in two explosions in and around Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu, according to an official. The first attack was a landmine explosion that targeted a vehicle carrying security personnel on the outskirts of Mogadishu, according to a police officer who spoke to Anadolu ...
- Cambodia: Battambang farmer finds 47 Soviet landmines
June 10, 2022
A farmer in Rukhak Kiri district of Battambang province found 47 Soviet Union-made landmines on June 9 while he was looking after his cows, according to the National Police. The police said the landmines found are the type PN2 with a cross sign on each of them, all made in the now-dissolved Soviet Union. They were ...
- UK: Manchester-based landmine charity heading to Ukraine to help clear explosives left by war
June 6, 2022
A charity based in Manchester is sending a team to Ukraine to help clear explosives left by the war. The Mines Advisory Group will work with local people and Ukrainian authorities to dispose of mines and other munitions. They will also educate communities about the dangers and how they can stay safe. https://twitter.com/GranadaReports/status/1533765646651207684 Read more… Source: ITV News
- Vietnam: Quang Binh works hard on bomb and mine clearance
May 31, 2022
A workshop on building a database for coordination in overcoming post-war bombs, mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the central province of Quang Binh was organised in the locality on May 30. As part of a project on establishing and assisting database units, and coordinating the settlement of UXO consequences in Quang Binh, the event was ...
- German DM22 Directional Anti-Tank Mines In Ukraine
May 29, 2022
While there has been much discussion of Germany’s transfer of RGW90 (Matador) anti-armour weapons, MANPADS and Gepard anti-air systems one weapon which has been overlooked is the DM-22 PARM. The initial version of the mine, the DM12 PARM 1 or Panzerabwehrrichtmine was developed in the late 1980s and it entered Bundeswehr service in the early 1990s. ...
- Ukraine: Russia Uses Huge Demining Robots to Clear Explosives From Seized City of Mariupol
May 24, 2022
In a released video, pro-Russian combat engineers are seen using metal detectors and demining robots to clear mines and explosives from the battered city of Mariupol after “liberating” the area last week. The pro-Russian People’s Militia of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) said they are continuing demining operations after seizing Mariupol last week. The militia added ...
- Cambodia: CMAC inks agreement for $12 million demining project in Battambang
May 24, 2022
The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) signed an agreement with Crown Agents for the implementation of the mine clearance project of the Mine Action Integration and Disability Relief Project Phase II. The project is financed under a grant of the Japanese Government with the amount of $12,263,465 from April of this year until December 31,2025. The signing ...
- Azerbaijan getting rid of unusable ammo as mine clearance op goes ahead in Karabakh
May 23, 2022
Units of the Azerbaijan Army are continuing disposal of expired and unusable ammunition in a planned manner in compliance with safety measures, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. According to the ministry, the process will be carried out from May 23 to May 28, 2022, at the Seyfali training range. The public will be periodically informed ...
- MAG set to start work in Ukraine
May 23, 2022
MAG is set to deliver explosive ordnance risk education in Ukraine in partnership with a Ukrainian mine action charity – with operations to clear landmines and other explosive ordnance to commence later this year. A partnership agreement has been signed between MAG and the non-profit Ukrainian Deminers Association (UDA) that will see long-term collaboration between the ...
- Combodia: Tractor hits anti-tank mine, Preah Vihear’s sixth death this year
May 23, 2022
A landmine killed a man on May 22 while he was operating a power tiller to plough a rice field in Sro Em commune’s Stung Khieu Techo village of Preah Vihear province’s Choam Ksan district. Deputy district governor Linh Yut told The Post on May 23 that the 29-year-old victim, Ry Lin, lived in Anlong village ...
- Ukraine: Russian soldiers enter Azovstal steel plant to clear land mines
May 23, 2022
Russian foot soldiers enter Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol to clear land mines from the site. Video released by Russian Defense Ministry shows soldiers as they conduct mine clearance work as well as military vehicles at the industrial grounds of Azovstal steelplant. There was also controlled mine detonation work in the area. https://youtu.be/mjWxAa9tYB0 Read more… Source: The Sun
- Ukraine: Demining of Kyiv Region Completed
May 20, 2022
According to the President’s Office, engineers have completed demining in the liberated territories of the Kyiv region. According to Deputy Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Tymoshenko: “Demining of the Kyiv region is entirely completed. 100% of Kyiv Oblast’s electricity supply has been restored. The work has lasted 45 days instead of the planned ...
- Yemen: Houthi mines have killed 372 people since mid-2019
May 17, 2022
Tens of thousands of land mines planted by the Iran-backed Houthis across Yemen have killed 372 people and wounded 754 more since mid-2019, the Yemeni Landmine Monitor said. The latest victim of unexploded ordnance was a policeman, Mohammed Aklan, who was fatally wounded this week after stepping on a mine outside his home on the outskirts ...
- Cambodia: Pailin tractor driver detonates anti-tank mine, suffers injuries
May 16, 2022
A man was injured and rushed to hospital after his tractor detonated an anti-tank mine on May 15 in Sala Krao commune’s Stung Koy village of Pailin province’s Sala Krao district. District police chief Meak Saran identified the driver as Moeurn Seila, 25, a resident of the village. He suffered a broken leg, an injured torso ...