President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree initiating Ukraine’s withdrawal from the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.

The move reflects a broader shift in Kyiv’s defence policy in response to Russia’s continued and extensive use of mines on Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine ratified the Ottawa Convention in 2005. The decision to exit the treaty now requires parliamentary approval, though no date has been set for debate. The formal withdrawal would align Ukraine with several neighbouring states, including Poland, Finland, and the Baltic countries, which have either already withdrawn or declared their intention to do so amid heightened regional security concerns.

In a nightly address on 29 June, Zelenskyy said Russia’s widespread use of mines—alongside other weaponry such as ballistic missiles—left Ukraine with no choice but to reconsider its treaty obligations.

“Russia has never been a party to this convention and is using anti-personnel mines with utmost cynicism,” Zelenskyy said. “This is a hallmark of Russian killers – to destroy life by all means at their disposal. We see how our neighbours in Europe react to this threat.”

He added that Ukraine’s decision is intended as a message to its international partners and neighbouring countries facing similar threats from Russia. “We take this political step and give a signal to our political partners on what to focus on. This concerns all countries that border Russia.”

Anti-personnel mines, Zelenskyy said, are “often the instrument for which nothing can be substituted for defence purposes.” Ukrainian officials have long noted the challenges posed by Russia’s mine-laying activities, especially in areas reclaimed by Ukrainian forces since 2022. These regions remain heavily contaminated, delaying reconstruction and putting returning civilians at risk.

The presidential decree supports a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to begin the legal process of withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention. The document, published on the official presidential website, specifically calls for support in withdrawing from the 1997 treaty formally titled The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.

Roman Kostenko, secretary of the parliamentary committee on national security, defence and intelligence, welcomed the decision. Writing on Facebook, he called it “a step that the reality of war has long demanded.”

“Russia is not a party to this Convention and is massively using mines against our military and civilians,” he said. “We cannot remain tied down in an environment where the enemy has no restrictions.”

Kostenko stressed that parliamentary approval is still required and would represent the definitive step to restore Ukraine’s full defensive options. He did not indicate when the issue would be put before the Verkhovna Rada.

Since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the use of anti-personnel mines has become widespread. Human Rights Watch and other monitoring groups have documented the deployment of multiple mine variants by Russian forces, including in civilian areas. Casualties among both soldiers and civilians—particularly limb amputations—have become a frequent consequence.

In 2024, the United States approved the transfer of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, marking a notable policy shift. Then-Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin justified the decision by citing the urgent need to slow Russian advances, particularly along the eastern front.

The Ottawa Convention has been ratified by over 160 countries and is widely viewed as a central pillar of post-Cold War humanitarian arms control. However, several major powers, including Russia, China, and the United States, remain outside the treaty.