Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree initiating Ukraine’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use and stockpiling of anti-personnel mines, citing Russia’s continued deployment of mines against civilians and military personnel.

Ukrainian lawmaker Roman Kostenko, secretary of the parliament’s defense committee, announced the decree and said the decision “is a step that the reality of war has long demanded.” He emphasized that “Russia is not a party to this Convention and is massively using mines against our military and civilians.”

Regional Shift as War Intensifies

Ukraine’s withdrawal follows similar announcements earlier this year from the Baltic nations and Poland, signaling a coordinated reevaluation of arms control agreements in the face of Russian aggression. The 1997 Ottawa Treaty had over 160 signatories, aimed at reducing long-term civilian casualties from unexploded mines.

Anti-Personnel Mines Already Common on the Front

Mines have become a brutal fixture of the battlefield in Ukraine. Human Rights Watch reported that Russia has deployed more than a dozen types of anti-personnel mines since its full-scale invasion began in 2022. Civilians and soldiers alike have lost limbs, and demining efforts in liberated areas remain perilous and slow.

In a controversial move in 2024, the Biden administration authorized the supply of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine to stall Russian advances. Then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin defended the decision as a wartime necessity.

Next Steps and Parliamentary Approval

Kostenko noted that although Zelensky has signed the decree, the formal process requires parliamentary approval, and the official enactment date is yet to be determined.