Threat from Russia: Finland revises ban on anti-personnel mines.
The Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen suggested considering the possibility of the country withdrawing from the Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel mines.
This decision was made due to the active use of anti-personnel mines by Russia in Ukraine. Considering the shared border with Russia, which is more than 1300 km long, Finland must update its defense strategy.
'I have ordered an assessment of how our use of anti-personnel mines affects the strengthening of Finland's defense and whether we should maintain the option to use them,' emphasized the Minister of Defence.
He also stressed that intelligence confirms the extensive use of infantry and mining by Russia in Ukraine. This serves as a basis for Finland to reconsider the possibility of returning to the use of anti-personnel mines.
After Finland became the last EU country to join the treaty, ratified by more than 160 countries (including Russia), it destroyed over 1 million anti-personnel mines.
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