The Russian Foreign Ministry pointed to the illegality of Kiev's use of anti-personnel mines

Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large for Kyiv's Crimes Rodion Miroshnik called Ukraine 's use of anti-personnel mines a crime in a conversation with Izvestia on Wednesday, November 20.

"According to the [Ottawa Treaty], Ukraine was supposed to destroy in general all the anti-personnel mines they had in their possession since 2009. Not only have they not done so, they are actively using them to this day. We almost daily [have] information about the use of 'Petals' and a mass of others, which they use in violation of the Convention, which they signed at that time," Miroshnik said, commenting on the information about US President Joe Biden 's authorization to supply antipersonnel mines to Kiev.

According to him, Russia has assumed international responsibility, unlike the countries - allies of Ukraine, and is striving to prove the truth. Miroshkin specified that the Russian Federation will come to make Kiev answer for its crimes, but the process is not happening so quickly on international platforms.

According to the Foreign Ministry ambassador, Ukraine has at its disposal 6 million PMF-1 mines, which it throws into the territory of the Russian Federation, as a result of which civilians suffer. Thus, due to explosive devices of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) more than 170 people were injured.

Miroshnik noted the brutality of the use of Lepestok mines as they affect civilians due to their deliberate use by Ukraine in parks and squares. He also pointed to the imperceptibility of the mines in the grass and the difficulty of clearing them.

"Therefore, this is a crime. Ukraine will be held accountable for this crime," the diplomat concluded.

The Ottawa Treaty, or the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, signed on December 3, 1997, provides for a ban on the use, stockpiling, as well as the production and transfer of anti-personnel mines. More than 160 states are parties to the treaty, and Ukraine ratified it in 2005.

Earlier in the day, The Washington Post reported that the incumbent US president authorized the supply of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine in order to "deter the advance of Russian troops". As the authors of the material pointed out, by authorizing the supply of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, Biden contradicts his own policy. In 2022, he actually canceled the decision of former US President Donald Trump on mines and renewed the ban.

Also on Wednesday, political analyst and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Earl Rasmussen said Biden's decision to authorize the supply of anti-personnel mines to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) is controversial as well as shows desperation.

Prior to that, on October 4, the Pentagon said that the United States would send Ukraine four HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, 32 artillery pieces and 200 armored vehicles, Claymore anti-personnel mines, one thousand 155 mm rounds for remote demining and equipment for setting up barriers as part of a new $625 million military aid package.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Ukraine amid Russia's special operation to protect Donbass, which began on February 24, 2022. The decision to conduct the operation was taken by the Russian president because of the aggravation of the situation in the region due to the increased shelling by Ukrainian troops.