Payam Javan: The Biden administration has approved the use of American-supplied antipersonnel land mines by Ukraine to counter Russian advancements on the battlefield. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced this shift in policy, citing changes in Russian military tactics, including a heavier reliance on ground troops. While antipersonnel land mines are controversial due to their lasting dangers to civilians, Austin emphasized that the mines being supplied to Ukraine are “nonpersistent,” designed to deactivate over time, making them safer than traditional mines. This decision aligns with Ukraine’s growing need to slow Russia’s advancing forces, especially in the Donetsk region, where the larger Russian army continues to gain ground.

The escalation comes as the U.S. and some Western embassies in Kyiv temporarily closed, following warnings of a potential major Russian aerial attack. The closures occurred amidst heightened tensions caused by President Biden’s authorization of Ukraine’s use of U.S.-made missiles to target Russian soil, which has angered the Kremlin. Western leaders dismissed Russia’s threats of lowering its nuclear-use threshold as a deterrent tactic, though the move has added to global market anxieties. Meanwhile, Ukraine has ramped up its counteroffensive with strikes on strategic Russian facilities, including a drone factory and an ammunition arsenal, though these claims remain unverified.

Adding to the complexity, North Korea has reportedly sent troops and artillery systems to support Russia, marking a significant international development in the war that has now passed 1,000 days. Analysts suggest that U.S. policy changes, including the approval of land mines and long-range missile use, aim to degrade Russian military capabilities but are unlikely to drastically alter the war’s trajectory. As winter approaches, concerns grow about Russia’s possible plans to target Ukraine’s power infrastructure with stockpiled missiles, further intensifying the conflict.