The U.S. State Department explained the reason for the decision to supply anti-personnel mines to the AFU

The decision to supply anti-personnel mines to Ukraine was motivated by the advance of the Russian Armed Forces. This was stated by the official representative of the US State Department, Matthew Miller, on November 20.

"The real events we are seeing are the advance of Russia, particularly the advance of Russian infantry in eastern Ukraine. These unstable anti-personnel mines are designed to thwart those infantry advances," he said during the briefing, which was broadcast on the State Department's YouTube channel.

Miller added that the mines to be delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) become inert two weeks after installation.

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Earlier in the day, The Washington Post (WP) reported that the incumbent US president authorized the supply of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine in order to "deter the advance of Russian troops." The publication drew attention to the fact that Biden, by allowing the Ukrainian Armed Forces to use such weapons, contradicts his own policy. WP recalled that in 2022 he renewed the ban on the use of such mines, effectively reversing the decision of his predecessor Donald Trump.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin later reaffirmed the decision. In his opinion, such mines will be safer than the bombs that Ukraine makes on its own. The Pentagon chief added that this US decision was due to the fact that the fastest way to advance on the battlefield of a special operation is Russian infantry, not armored personnel carriers.

On the same day, political analyst, retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Earl Rasmussen pointed out that Biden gave the AFU permission on mines because Kiev is in a desperate position on the battlefield. The expert emphasized that this step of the American president is controversial, because anti-personnel mines pose a danger to civilians.

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