In a significant shift in U.S. military strategy, President Joe Biden has authorised the supply of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine. 

This decision comes as Ukraine continues to face mounting pressure from Russian forces in the east, where the front lines have become increasingly volatile.

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed the decision on Wednesday, stating that it was made to help Ukraine strengthen its defences against Russian ground assaults, particularly as front lines in eastern Ukraine continue to falter.

This move follows a series of military escalations between Russia and the U.S., including Ukraine’s recent use of long-range American missiles to target Russian positions, a step that prompted Moscow to adjust its nuclear strategy.

On Wednesday, Mr Austin told reporters in Laos, where he was for a visit to discuss regional security and strengthen U.S.-Southeast Asia relations, that the decision was motivated by Russia’s changing tactics on the frontlines.

“Because the Russians have been so unsuccessful in the way that they have been fighting, they’ve kind of changed their tactics a bit,” he said.

The mines to be sent are “nonpersistent,” meaning they are designed to self-destruct after a certain time, minimizing the risk to civilians once the conflict ends. 

Mr Austin explained that Russia’s growing dependence on infantry troops, instead of armored vehicles, along with its reliance on thousands of North Korean soldiers, was a key factor in the decision to send the mines.

The U.S. decision, made in the final weeks of Mr Biden’s term, highlights the increasing urgency of the situation. 

While Mr Biden has previously been cautious about escalating the conflict with Russia, the recent geopolitical climate, particularly with the incoming administration president-elect Donald Trump, has shifted the calculus. 

The U.S. and its allies are bracing for more intense Russian assaults in the coming weeks, particularly as mines continue to play a strategic role in both Russian and Ukrainian military tactics.

Russia has already made extensive use of landmines, employing both hand-placed and rocket-dispersed devices to disrupt Ukrainian advances and slow down counteroffensives. 

The most notable example of this was a vast minefield in southern Ukraine, which severely hindered Ukrainian forces in 2023.