US President Joe Biden has authorized the delivery of anti-personnel land mines to Ukraine, as confirmed by a US defense official speaking to the BBC. The decision marks a significant shift in US policy, with the mines expected to be deployed on Ukrainian territory to slow Russian advances, particularly in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have been making steady progress.

The US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, emphasized that Ukraine had committed to using the mines only in areas outside of densely populated regions. This pledge aims to mitigate the risks to civilian populations, which has been a central concern with the use of land mines. The provision of these mines is part of the ongoing support by the outgoing US administration to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities ahead of Donald Trump’s anticipated return to the White House in January 2025.

Russia has heavily relied on land mines since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and despite international objections to their use due to humanitarian concerns, the Biden administration had refrained from supplying these weapons until now. The US defense official confirmed that the land mines to be supplied are designed to deactivate after a short period, further minimizing long-term risks to civilians.

In addition to anti-personnel land mines, Ukraine has also received US-made longer-range Army Tactical Missile System (Atacms) missiles. These missiles were used in a recent strike inside Russia, targeting the Bryansk region near the Ukrainian border. Russian officials claimed to have intercepted five of the missiles, with one causing a fire at a military facility, though US officials suggested that only two of the missiles were intercepted.

The strike, which follows earlier reports of US approval for the use of Atacms missiles, has heightened tensions, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accusing Washington of escalating the conflict. The Kremlin has vowed to retaliate.

In a related development, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved changes to the country’s nuclear doctrine, expanding the circumstances under which Russia would consider using its nuclear arsenal. These changes include the possibility of nuclear retaliation if a non-nuclear state attacks Russia with the support of a nuclear power, further intensifying concerns over the escalation of the war.

The US State Department responded to the changes, with spokesperson Matthew Miller condemning Russia’s use of nuclear rhetoric and behavior since the invasion, calling it an irresponsible attempt to coerce Ukraine and other nations globally.