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In another policy reversal in the last weeks of his presidency, US Pres. Joe Biden has approved the provision of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, US officials briefed a number of publications on Tuesday.

CBS News

The move follows the decision earlier this week to allow Ukraine to use long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS, on Russia's Kursk region — previously rejected over fears of drawing the US into the conflict with Russia, as well as American stockpile concerns.

Verity

According to US officials who spoke to the Washington Post, which first reported the development on anti-personnel mines, the decision was taken to stymie Russian advances in eastern Ukraine.

The Washington Post

New York Post

While the use of such mines has long been criticized by human rights campaigners because they can kill indiscriminately and remain active for long periods of time, US officials said the types of mines that'll be provided to Ukraine will be "non-persistent" — meaning they become inactive after shorter periods.

The US has also received assurances that mines will not be used near densely populated areas and will only be used for defensive purposes in Ukraine, not for any offensive capability in Russian territory, the officials said.

BBC News

Separately, US officials said on Tuesday that the Pentagon will send Ukraine an additional $275M in military aid as the Biden administration continues to try to pour in as much support before Pres.-elect Donald Trump's coming presidency.

Meanwhile, the US embassy in Kyiv said it received information of "a potential significant air attack" on Wednesday. "Out of an abundance of caution, the embassy will be closed, and embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place," a statement said.

Usembassy

Unlike the mines that Russia has indiscriminately spread across Ukraine to devastating effect, the mines provided by the US for Ukraine's use will be "non-persistent" and they will help them better protect their sovereign territory from Russian aggression.

U.S. to provide anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, official says

By his own admission, Biden said the use of mines are reckless as they often harm civilians to a much greater effect than any military impact. However, Biden seems to have no problem contradicting himself when it comes to policy.

Biden authorizes the shipment of antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine in latest about-face

There's a 8% chance that there will be a direct conflict between Russia and any NATO member state before 2027, according to the Metaculus community prediction.

Biden Approves Sending Anti-Personnel Mines to Ukraine

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