Poland Revives Landmine Use Amidst Escalating Russian Threat

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland has officially exited the 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, commonly known as the Ottawa Convention and will deploy both anti-personnel and anti-tank landmines along its eastern border to deter potential aggression from Russia, Polish officials announced Friday. The move comes as concerns grow over regional security following Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Strategic Shift in Defense Policy

Poland’s decision to withdraw from the treaty, which it ratified in 2012 and fully complied with by destroying its stockpile in 2016, reflects a significant shift in its defense strategy. Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski stated that these mines are “one of the most key elements of the defense structure we are constructing on the eastern flank of NATO, in Poland, on the border with Russia in the north and with Belarus in the east.” AP News

The decision aligns Poland with Finland, Ukraine, and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, all of which have announced their withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, citing the need to bolster border defenses in light of the perceived threat from Russia. Russia, along with the United States, has never been a signatory to the treaty.

Deployment and Production Capabilities

Poland intends to begin domestic production of both anti-personnel and anti-tank landmines, aiming for self-sufficiency in this area. The country is developing the capability to rapidly deploy these defenses, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk unveiling the “Bluszcz” (Ivy) system – an unmanned vehicle designed to distribute anti-tank mines – on Thursday. CBC News

Tusk indicated that Poland could mine its eastern borders within 48 hours if a threat emerges. Euronews

Eastern Shield and Conditions for Deployment

The landmine deployment is part of the “Eastern Shield,” a broader initiative to enhance fortifications along Poland’s borders with Belarus and Russia, initiated in 2024. Although, Zalewski emphasized that Poland will only deploy the mines “when there is a realistic threat of Russian aggression.” AP News

“We very much respect our territory and we don’t want to exclude it from day to day use for the Polish citizens,” Zalewski added.

International Criticism and Justification

The move has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who argue that anti-personnel mines pose unacceptable risks to civilians. However, Zalewski defended the decision, stating that Poland is balancing security concerns with a commitment to civilian safety by keeping the mines in reserve for use only in the event of an attack. AP News

“We are not an aggressive country,” he said, “but we have to use all means to deter Russia.”

Understanding the Ottawa Convention

The 1997 Ottawa Convention, or Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines. These mines are designed to explode upon contact with a person, and have caused significant civilian casualties in conflict zones worldwide, including Cambodia, Angola, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. CBC News