Finland intends to return anti-personnel mines to service in 2026

Finland plans to return anti-personnel mines to the army in January 2026. This was reported on August 26 by Yle TV and radio company with reference to Rika Mikkonen, Inspector of the Finnish Army Corps of Engineers.

"From January next year, development will begin so that antipersonnel mines can return to service as soon as possible and complement our defense system," Mikkonen said.

Yle clarifies that antipersonnel mines were decommissioned in 2012 as part of the Ottawa Treaty, which Finland signed. However, last year, the country decided to withdraw from this agreement, and from January 10, 2026, the six-month waiting period ends, after which Finland will be able to use antipersonnel mines again.

Mikkonen also added that in the future Finland will strive to use modern means such as fan charges, formerly known as fan mines.

Before the mine ban agreement came into force, there were about 1 million anti-personnel mines in Finland, and now the goal is to return to this level. According to the broadcaster, the country's army will purchase mines from domestic manufacturers, rather than producing them on its own, as it used to.

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On July 10, the Finnish Foreign Ministry informed the UN about its withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel mines. According to the ministry, the decision to withdraw from the convention is related to the Finnish defense sector, as the security situation in the state has deteriorated. In addition, the Finnish Foreign Ministry said that withdrawing from the treaty would not affect the state's obligations related to international law.

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