“According to the head of the Pentagon, the Ukrainian military needs “things that can help slow down the efforts” of the Russian Federation, which has changed its tactics on the front”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
“They (Russians – ed.) somewhat changed their tactics. They no longer lead the offensive with their mechanized forces. They act with the help of infantry, which is able to pave the way for mechanized troops,” Austin, quoted by CNN, told reporters.
According to the head of the Pentagon, the Ukrainian military needs “things that can help slow down these efforts.”
“The anti-personnel mines that we would like to provide to Ukraine are mines that are not permanent. We can control when they self-activate, self-detonate, and that makes them much safer than the ones they create on their own,” Austin said.
He emphasized that Ukraine should be responsible for “fixing where they place these mines.”
Earlier, The Washington Post, with reference to its sources, reported that US President Joe Biden authorized the provision of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine. The use of mines will be limited to the territory of Ukraine, with an expected emphasis on its eastern part, one of the officials said.
The Biden administration is deeply concerned about Russia’s offensive actions on the front lines in Ukraine in recent weeks and sees an urgent need to stop them, officials said. The Pentagon believes providing the mines is one of the most helpful steps the Biden administration can take to slow Russia’s attack, officials said.
The US has provided Ukraine with anti-tank mines since the beginning of the war, but the decision to provide anti-personnel mines is another major policy change for the outgoing Biden administration.
After the start of the full-scale invasion of Russia in February 2022, Ukraine became one of the most mined countries in the world.