Ukraine

Mine Ban Policy

Last updated: 17 November 2022

Policy

Ukraine signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 24 February 1999 and ratified it on 27 December 2005, becoming a State Party on 1 June 2006.

Ukraine does not have specific legislation in place to enforce its implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty with fiscal and penal sanctions. It has reported existing laws and regulations under national implementation measures for the Mine Ban Treaty, including a 2012 law which approved an agreement with an agency of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to destroy Ukraine’s stockpiled antipersonnel mines.[1] A 2019 law on mine action “defines the legal and organization[al] foundations for the implementation of anti-mine activities in Ukraine.”[2]

Ukraine has provided sixteen Article 7 transparency reports under the Mine Ban Treaty since 2006. Its last annual updated report was submitted on 1 April 2021 and covered activities during calendar year 2020.[3] Ukraine has not submitted a report covering calendar year 2021, as of October 2022.

Since 2009, Ukraine has participated in the treaty’s meetings, most recently the Nineteenth Meeting of States Parties, held virtually in November 2021, and intersessional meetings held in Geneva in June 2022.[4]

Ukraine is party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Amended Protocol II on landmines, and Protocol V on explosive remnants of war (ERW). However, its obligations on antipersonnel landmines are superseded by the stricter prohibitions contained in the Mine Ban Treaty. Ukraine last submitted an annual updated transparency report for CCW Amended Protocol II and Protocol V in April 2021.

Ukraine is not party to the åConvention on Cluster Munitions.

Production and transfer

Ukraine declared in 2009 that it “has not made and does not produce antipersonnel mines.”[5]

Ukraine has not produced antipersonnel mines since its independence in 1991 and is not known to have exported them.[6] A moratorium on the export of antipersonnel mines was put in place in 1999 and stayed in effect until the Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Ukraine in 2006.

Use

New use

There is no credible information that Ukrainian government forces have used antipersonnel mines in violation of the Mine Ban Treaty since 2014 and into 2022. Yet the apparent scale of PFM-series remotely-delivered mines in territory formerly under the control of the Russian military poses serious questions about the status of PFM-series antipersonnel mines awaiting destruction by Ukraine (see section below).

Russia has used several different types of antipersonnel landmines in Ukraine since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February 2022.[7] This is an unprecedented situation in which a country that is not party to the Mine Ban Treaty is using the weapon on the territory of a State Party.

At least eight types of antipersonnel mines have been used or are alleged to have been used by Russian forces in Ukraine since February 2022. There is also significant evidence that Russian forces have laid victim-activated booby-traps and victim-activated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Ukraine since February 2022.[8]

Antipersonnel landmines used in Ukraine since February 2022

Designation

Origin

Type

Initiation

PFM-1 PFM-1S

USSR

Blast

Pressure

MOB

Russia

Fragmentation

Tripwire/command

MON-50

USSR/Russia

Fragmentation

Tripwire/command

MON-100

USSR/Russia

Fragmentation

Tripwire/command

OZM-72

USSR/Russia

Fragmentation

Tripwire/command

PMN-4

Russia

Blast

Pressure

POM-2/ POM-2R

USSR/Russia

Fragmentation

Tripwire/self-destruct

POM-3

Russia

Fragmentation

Seismic

Note: USSR=Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

All of the antipersonnel mine types used were manufactured in Russia or its predecessor, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR, or Soviet Union). Some mines used by Russia in Ukraine in 2022 were manufactured as recently as 2021. This includes the POM-3 antipersonnel mine, which is delivered by the ISDM Zemledelie-I mine-laying rocket launcher from a distance of 5–15km.[9] The POM-3 mine is equipped with a sensitive seismic fuze which makes it prone to detonate when approached, as well as a self-destruct feature. Another mine used by Russia in Ukraine, the PMN-4, was developed by Russia in the early 1990s.[10]

Other mine types used in Ukraine can be used in a command-detonated or victim-activated mode, including MON-series and OZM-72 mines.[11] The POM-2 mine is delivered by helicopter, ground-fired rockets, or other remote means, while its variant the POM-2R is designed to be emplaced by hand.[12]If activated by the victim through a mechanical pull, tension release, seismic fuze, or other means, such munitions are considered antipersonnel mines, prohibited by the Mine Ban Treaty.[13]

Use of PFM-series mines

There have been numerous allegations and counter-allegations that both Russia and Ukraine have used PFM-series antipersonnel mines in Ukraine in 2022. The claims began during the first days of the invasion and have continued to emerge with greater frequency. The Monitor has reviewed approximately 30 such allegations, most of which related to territory under the control of Russian forces at the time the claim was made. After Ukrainian forces re-captured territory, particularly in eastern parts of the Kharkiv region and the city of Izium in September 2022, and former Russian-controlled territory became accessible to independent researchers, more information on the scale and method of PFM-series mine use has become available.

Both Russia and Ukraine stockpile PFM-series mines, which are delivered by a variety of dispersal systems including hand-carried ground launchers, vehicle-mounted launchers, jets and helicopters, and ground-fired 122mm and 220mm rockets.[14] The size of Russia’s stockpile of PFM-series mines is unknown.

Ukraine declared possessing 3.3 million PFM-series mines in 2020, which are all earmarked for destruction in accordance with the Mine Ban Treaty.[15] Ukraine has already destroyed more than three million PFM-series mines contained in cartridges used in the KMGU aerial dispenser and other types of “cassettes” carrying PFM-series mines used to load different types of delivery systems. The vast majority of Ukraine’s remaining antipersonnel landmine stocks consist of PFM-1S self-destructing mines contained in 220mm 9M27K3 rockets fired by the Uragan multi-barrel rocket launchers.[16]

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Irina Venediktova claimed that PFM-series landmines were used by Russian forces in the Kharkiv region as early as 26 February 2022.[17] Subsequently, a Polish media outlet reported that the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army had confirmed the discovery of such mines.[18] Other allegations of Russian use of PFM-series mines, recorded by the Monitor, include claims made on Ukrainian social media that a Russian aircraft scattered PFM mines in the Sumi region in mid-March 2022.[19] Similar reports surfaced in early April 2022 alleging Russian use of PFM-series mines near the town of Popasnaya.[20]

Russian officials have alleged that Ukrainian forces used PFM-series antipersonnel mines, while photographs and videos shared by Russians on social media showed PFM-series mines lying in place after attacks in areas that were under Russian control at the time.[21] Ukraine has denied the allegations and blamed Russian forces for PFM-series mine use.[22] The United Kingdom (UK) and the US have accused Russian forces of using PFM-series mines in the Donbas region.[23]

Initially, most claims of use made by Russian sources consisted of a close-up photograph of a mine posted to social media with no further context.[24] This trend culminated in July 2022, as Russian media sources in the city of Donetsk claimed that PFM-series mines had been scattered at several locations in the city center. These allegations were accompanied by images of mine clearance;[25] of individual PFM mines in isolation;[26] of civilians handling presumably live mines;[27] and claims of civilian casualties.[28] Russian diplomatic posts globally shared and quickly amplified the story.[29]

One of the more notable Russian claims of PFM-series mine use by Ukrainian forces originated from an attack in late May 2022 on Russian positions in Novovoskresenske, in the Kherson region. Evidence of the attack included photographs of mines in place, remnants of detonated mines, and remnants of the 220mm 9M27K3 Uragan mine-laying rocket, which opens in flight and scatters a payload of 312 PFM-type mines.[30] Ukrainian officials cited in a Ukrainian media report about this attack on 25 May 2022 counter-attributed responsibility to Russian forces.[31]

As of October 2022, there was significant visual evidence of PFM-type mine use and the remnants of the distinctive carrier equipment necessary to deploy these mines. For example, there have been sightings of the KPFM-1M cassette assembly used by 9M27K3 220mm Uragan mine-laying rockets.[32] Both elements were present in images accompanying the Russian claim that Ukrainian troops had mined the approaches to Bakhmut and Soledar, in the Donetsk region, in early August 2022.[33] There have been no sightings of KSF-1 series canisters or the BKF-PFM cartridges necessary to deploy these mines from other launch modalities, such as trucks or helicopters.

Since there is no independent confirmation of the allegations, a final assessment and attribution of use of PFM-type mines in Ukraine is not possible at this time.

International reaction

Since March 2022, Russia’s use of antipersonnel mines in Ukraine has been strongly condemned, including by the Mine Ban Treaty president of the Twentieth Meeting of States Parties, Colombia, as well as Austria, Belgium, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, and the US. The new use of antipersonnel landmines in Ukraine has also been condemned by the treaty’s special envoy for universalization, as well as by US congressional representatives such as Senator Patrick Leahy.[34] 

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) called on all parties to the armed conflict in Ukraine to ensure that no antipersonnel mines were used by any actor, and to destroy any antipersonnel mines seized or otherwise acquired.[35]

Antivehicle mines

Antivehicle mines are often used in a manner which violates the laws of war. This typically occurs when they are deployed indiscriminately; meaning that their effects are not limited to only military vehicles and that they can harm military or civilian vehicles without distinction. Unlawful use also includes taking inadequate precautions to avoid civilian casualties.

Antivehicle mines (also called antitank mines) have been used during the war in Ukraine by both Russian and Ukrainian forces.[36] These mines are designed to damage or destroy vehicles including tanks and armored fighting vehicles. The Mine Ban Treaty prohibits antipersonnel mines, but not antivehicle mines or command-detonated (remote-controlled) mines. Amended Protocol II of the CCW on landmines provides weak restrictions on the use of antivehicle mines.

Antivehicle landmines used in Ukraine in 2022

Designation

Origin

Type

Initiation

PTKM-1R

Russia

Shaped-charge

Top-attack

PTM-1/PTM-1G

USSR/Russia

Blast

Pressure/self-destruct

PTM-4M

Russia

Shaped-charge

Magnetic influence

TM-62M

USSR/Russia

Blast

Pressure

TM-62P3

USSR/Russia

Blast

Pressure

Note: USSR=Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Ukrainian forces have also received, and are apparently using, antivehicle mines provided by their military allies. Western designed or produced antivehicle landmines reported to have been used in Ukraine include the rocket-delivered AT-DM1399 mine,[37] the off-route DM-22, the pressure DM-31,[38] the magnetic influence HPD-2A2,[39] the magnetic influence FFV-028,[40] and the off-route PK-14 mine.[41]

Previous use

Previously, antipersonnel mines were used in the conflict between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-supported separatists that erupted in early 2014—initially in Crimea, and later in the eastern Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. Ukraine has stated that it did not use antipersonnel mines and has accused Russian-supported insurgent forces of laying mines.[42]

There is significant evidence, at different locations, that antipersonnel mines of Soviet-origin with production markings from the 1980s, and antipersonnel mines with production markings from the 2000s (indicating Russian origin), have been stockpiled and used by Russian-supported separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014, including MON-series mines, PMN-1 and PMN-2 mines, OZM-72 mines, and POM-2 mines.

Stockpiling and destruction

The types and quantities of antipersonnel landmines that Ukraine has reported in its stockpile have varied over the years. The highest reported total—6,664,342 mines of nine different types—was detailed in Landmine Monitor 2006.[43]

Ukraine has destroyed 3,438,948 antipersonnel landmines to date, constituting more than half of its total stocks. However, it missed its 1 June 2010 treaty-mandated deadline for the destruction of all stockpiled antipersonnel mines and is therefore in violation of the Mine Ban Treaty.[44]

In its Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 transparency report for calendar year 2020, Ukraine declared a stockpile of 3,364,433 antipersonnel mines, comprised of 3,363,828 PFM-series mines and 605 OZM-4 mines.[45] Ukraine said that a small number of PFM-type mines that were considered to be unstable and unsafe for further storage were destroyed in 2020.

Stockpiled antipersonnel mines destroyed by Ukraine, 2011–2021[46]

Year

Quantity destroyed

2021

Unknown

2020

456

2019

216,252

2018

892,320

2017

438,328

2016

652,840

2015

19,944

2014

576

2013

332,352

2012

22,604

2011

9,890

Total

2,585,562

Between 1999 and 2018, Ukraine completed the destruction of all its stocks of antipersonnel mines except for the PFM-1 type.[47] The OZM-4 mines were taken from storage facilities in Crimea seized by Russian forces in 2014.[48]

At the Mine Ban Treaty’s Fourth Review Conference, in November 2019, Ukraine reaffirmed its determination to destroy the “existing antipersonnel landmines inherited from pre-independence time” and said that the destruction process would continue to be funded from the state budget.[49] Ukraine has often pledged to destroy its remaining stocks, but has not provided a timeline for when it plans to do so.[50]

The process for the destruction of stockpiles of PFM-type antipersonnel mines has been overseen by a 2013 agreement between the Ministry of Defense, NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency, and the Pavlograd Chemical Plant. However, that agreement expired at the beginning of 2020 and has not since been renewed.[51]

To revitalize stockpile destruction efforts, Ukraine said in November 2021 that the NATO Support and Procurement Agency would open an international tender process to find bidders from Ukraine and NATO member states to destroy the remaining stocks.

 


[1] Ukraine Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, 1 April 2014, Form A. See, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Database.

[2] Statement of Ukraine, Mine Ban Treaty intersessional meetings, Geneva, 22 May 2019. Ukraine has also adopted two resolutions: on regulations for marking landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), and on funding procedures.

[3] Ukraine Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, 1 April 2021.

[4] Ukraine attended the Mine Ban Treaty’s Second Review Conference held in Cartagena in 2009, and its Fourth Review Conference in Oslo in November 2019, as well as most annual meetings of the treaty.

[5] Ukraine Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, 1 April 2021, Form E.

[6] For example, in May 2009, Ukraine said that it “did not produce APL [antipersonnel landmines] in the past, doesn’t produce at present, and will not produce them in the future.” Presentation of Ukraine, Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction, Mine Ban Treaty intersessional meetings, Geneva, 25 May 2009.

[7] See, for example, Human Rights Watch (HRW), “Background Briefing on Landmines in Ukraine,” 15 June 2022.

[10] Collective Awareness to UXO [unexploded ordnance], “PMN-4 Landmine: Description,” undated.

[11] Collective Awareness to UXO, “OZM-72 Landmine: Description,” undated.

[12] Collective Awareness to UXO, “POM-2 Landmine: Description,” undated.

[13] HRW, “Backgrounder on Antivehicle Landmines,” 8 April 2022.

[14] Of the states of the former USSR, Belarus and Turkmenistan joined the Mine Ban Treaty and destroyed their significant stockpiles (3.4 million and 5.4 million respectively). North Macedonia found a residual stockpile of banned antipersonnel mines in May 2012, including a small number of PFM-series mines, after it completed the destruction of its stockpile.  

[15] The requirement to destroy almost six million PFM-series antipersonnel mines was a key obstacle that prevented Ukraine from rapidly ratifying the Mine Ban Treaty. For years, Ukraine repeated at nearly every formal and informal Mine Ban Treaty meeting that it would depend on international support for the destruction of its stockpile. Ukraine missed its 1 June 2010 treaty-mandated deadline for the destruction of all stockpiled antipersonnel mines.

[16] Submission of Ukraine, Mine Ban Treaty Third Review Conference, Maputo, 18 June 2014; statement of Ukraine, Committee on Cooperative Compliance, Mine Ban Treaty intersessional meetings, Geneva, 26 June 2015; and statement of Ukraine, Mine Ban Treaty intersessional meetings, Geneva, 22 May 2019. In December 2014, Ukrainian government officials stated that “no banned weapons” had been used in the “Anti-Terrorist Operations Zone” by the Armed Forces of Ukraine or forces associated with them, such as volunteer battalions. The Military Prosecutor confirmed that an assessment had been undertaken to ensure that stockpiled KSF-1 and KSF-1S cartridges containing PFM-1 antipersonnel mines, BKF-PFM-1 cartridges with PFM-1S antipersonnel mines, and 9M27K3 rockets with PFM-1S antipersonnel mines were not operational, but rather destined for destruction in accordance with the Mine Ban Treaty.

[17] Facebook post by Irina Venediktova, Prosecutor General of Ukraine, 26 February 2022.

[18] “Ukraine attacked by Russia. Butterfly mines in the Kharkiv region,” Polish News, 26 February 2022.

[19] Daria Skuba, “In Sumy, during a night raid, the invaders scattered anti-personnel mines: what they look like,” Obozrevatel, 17 March 2022.

[20] Necro Mancer (666_mancer), “Russians fill residential areas of the city with mines-petals,” 4 April 2022, 17:36 UTC. Tweet.

[21] See, Permanent Mission of Russia to the UN, “Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at UNSC briefing on Ukraine,” 24 August 2022; and statement of Russia, Security Council, 27 July 2022.

[22] Facebook post by Irina Venediktova, Prosecutor General of Ukraine, 26 February 2022.

[24] Alikantes, Marina (Marianna9110), “The Armed Forces of Ukraine “littered” the territory of the Orphanage in Makiivka, a satellite city of Donetsk, with prohibited anti-personnel mines PFM-1 “Lepestok”, as well as in other cities of the DPR. These mines are prohibited by international conventions.” 2 August 2022, 18:51 UTC. Tweet.

[25] Nikolai (Nikolai11449196), “A Russia tank drives through Donetsk setting off PFM-1 ‘petal’ anti-personnel mines. Ukraine firing these mines into a civilian area is a war crime.” 31 July 2022, 08:26 UTC. Tweet; Bob in NZ (BobInNZ1), “A novel manner of demining the PFM-1 “Petal” anti-personnel mines spread by the UAF over Donetsk. These mines are small and disguised, and can easily kill a child or main an adult. Ukraine committed to destroying 10 million of these weapons in 1999, but failed to do so.” 31 July 2022, 11:18 UTC. Tweet; Chronology (Chronology22), “Local residents of #Donetsk help the sappers in clearing Ukrainian anti-personnel mines PFM-1 #Lepestok (#Petal) with simple improvised methods, a tire and a rope. How many did you demine today?, correspondent asked. About 20, replied the local resident. #Ukrainewar #Ukraine.” 2 August 2022, 09:20 UTC. Tweet.

[26] Glosm Eusec (glosmeusec), “On use of mines inside civilian areas. #Ukraine - 20220813 - unknown place, #Donetsk Oblast - Reported around 17.00 pm, video showing box with PFM-1 anti-personnel mines being described as on Marshak Street, Kyivs'kyi district, Donetsk.” 13 August 2022, 16:46 UTC. Tweet.

[27] NEXTA (nexta_tv), “In occupied #Donetsk, a woman picked up a petal mine and put it in her bag to show her colleagues at work. Due to the small size of the mine, she thought it was a shell fragment.” 31 July 2022, 12:34 UTC. Tweet.

[28] Dubovikova, Maria (politblogme), “Ukrainian “petal” mines were found in the following streets, avenues and lanes of Donetsk: Mira, Universitetskay, Oreshkova, Vatutina, Chelyuskintsev, Lubavina, Shchorsa, Bogdan Khmelnitsky. These are residential areas. No military infrastructure.” 30 July 2022, 23:23 UTC. Tweet.

[29] See, for example, Russia in Canada (RussianEmbassyC), “The retreating Ukrainian troops mine heavily the territories in Donbass with anti-personnel landmines PFM-1 “Lepestok” prohibited by the #OttawaConvention.” 7 July 2022, 16:17 UTC. Tweet.

[30] Ukraine Weapons Tracker (UAWeapons), “#Ukraine: UA forces reportedly hit RU-controlled Novovoskresenske, Kherson Oblast with 2 9M27K3 cluster MLRS rockets- each containing 312 infamous PFM-1S land mines. Whilst being very small they leave horrible injuries, though this time they should at least self-destruct in time.” 26 May 2022, 21:45 UTC. Tweet.

[31] “In the Kherson region, the Russian military shelled the villages of Novovoskresenske and Dudchany,” Suspilne Media, 26 May 2022.

[32] Chronology (Chronology22), “Ukrainian troops continue scattering mines PFM-1 #Lepestok (#Petal) in Donetsk using cluster munition of MLRS Uragan. The cluster shell is also sighted (photo no. 1). Civilians! Be careful! #Ukrainewar #Ukraine #Civilians #Donetsk #Cluster #HRW #AmnestyInternational.” 12 August 2022, 09:07 UTC. Tweet.

[33] Chronology (Chronology22), “Ukrainian troops have mined the approaches to Bakhmut and Soledar with anti-personnel mines PFM-1 Lepestok (#Petal). For the mining they use cluster munition from Uragan MLRS. The clusters are also seen in the footage #Ukraine #Ukrainewar #Soledar #Bakhmut #Artyomovsk #Lepestok.” 1 August 2022, 16:56 UTC. Tweet.

[34] Patrick Leahy, US Senator for Vermont, press release, “Statement on Russian Landmines: Congressional Record,” 7 April 2022.

[36] Thomas Gibbons-Neff and John Ismay, “Land Mines on a Timer, Scattered Over a Ukrainian Town,” The New York Times, 8 April 2022; and Nebi Qena, “Minister: Clearing live ordnance in Ukraine will take years,” Associated Press (AP), 19 March 2022.

[37] Ukraine Weapons Tracker (UAWeapons), “#Ukraine: More Western aid to Ukraine is revealed - this time, a potent AT2 DM1399 anti-tank mine was seen in #Kherson Oblast. 28 of these mines are delivered using the AT2 SCATMIN rocket fired from the MARS/M270 system. These rockets are still used by the UK and Germany.” 23 September 2022, 13:14 UTC. Tweet.

[38] Maksim (kms_d4k), “Also, received and already use German mines DM22 and DM31. We use it to destroy Russian tanks. It hits the side of the tank. It makes any vehicle non-functional. Good that the world supports us with weapons to do our job.” 2 June 2022, 21:16 UTC. Tweet.

[39] Gronk, Stepan (StepanGronk), “#France supplies #Ukraine with potent HPD-2 mines. The Ukrainian army has already mined approaches to positions near Opytnoye in #Donetsk region with these mines, which are equipped with magnetic target sensors & designed to destroy all types of armored vehicles including tanks.” 16 August 2022, 06:11 UTC. Tweet.

[40] Hiznay, Mark (MarkHiznay), “Another anti-vehicle mine to add to the “used in Ukraine” list. This time an FFV 028 mine, which uses a magnetic influence fuze and a Misznay Schardin effect warhead. Originally produced by Sweden as the Stridsvagnsmina 6. Germany and the Netherlands acquired them too.” 21 June 2022, 20:53 UTC. Tweet.

[41] Ukraine Weapons Tracker (UAWeapons), “#Ukraine: The Ukrainian Army received Estonian PK-14 anti-armor (EFP) directional mines. The mine can penetrate ~50mm of steel armor at the distance of 50 meters. PK-14 mines are already actively used on the front lines.” 9 September 2022, 12:46 UTC. Tweet.

[42] Submission of Ukraine, Mine Ban Treaty Third Review Conference, Maputo, 18 June 2014; statement of Ukraine, Committee on Cooperative Compliance, Mine Ban Treaty intersessional meetings, Geneva, 26 June 2015; and statement of Ukraine, Mine Ban Treaty intersessional meetings, Geneva, 22 May 2019. In December 2014, Ukrainian government officials stated that “no banned weapons” had been used in the “Anti-Terrorist Operations Zone” by the Armed Forces of Ukraine or forces associated with them, such as volunteer battalions. The Military Prosecutor confirmed that an assessment had been undertaken to ensure that stockpiled KSF-1 and KSF-1S cartridges containing PFM-1 antipersonnel mines, BKF-PFM-1 cartridges with PFM-1S antipersonnel mines, and 9M27K3 rockets with PFM-1S antipersonnel mines were not operational, but rather destined for destruction in accordance with the Mine Ban Treaty.

[43] For a chart showing reported changes in the quantities and types of antipersonnel mines stockpiled by Ukraine from 2006–2009, see ICBL, Landmine Monitor Report 2009: Toward a Mine-Free World (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada, October 2009), p. 774.

[44] On 18 May 2010, Ukraine officially informed States Parties in a note verbale that “it will be unable to comply with its Article 4 obligation to destroy stockpiled anti-personnel mines by 1 June 2010 deadline.” At the Mine Ban Treaty intersessional meetings in June 2010, after Ukraine missed its deadline, Ukraine’s representative noted that this is not “unexpected information to States Parties” and that “Ukraine remains open for the fruitful cooperation with States Parties and potential donors and hopes for the practical assistance to make Ukraine territory free from [antipersonnel mine] stockpiles of PFM-type as soon as possible.” See, Statement of Amb. Oleksandr Nykonenko, Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction, Mine Ban Treaty intersessional meetings, Geneva, 21 June 2010.

[45] Ukraine Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, 1 April 2019, Forms B and G.

[46] Ukraine Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Reports, 2012–2015 and 2017–2020, Form G. See, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Database.

[47] In a November 2008 presentation, Ukraine indicated that it had destroyed its entire stockpile of 238,010 POMZ-2 and POMZ-2M mines, as well as all 8,060 PMD-6 mines. Ukraine also destroyed more than 400,000 PMN mines in 2002 and 2003, and 101,088 PFM-1 mines in 1999. In June 2008, Ukraine reported that between 2005 and 2007, an experimental program to partially dismantle and destroy 8,000 POM-2 landmines was carried out at the Donetsk Chemical Plant, and a further 48 POM-2 mines were destroyed at the Pavlograd Chemical Plant. In its Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 reports submitted in 2007, 2008, and 2009, Ukraine also noted that while its MON-type and OZM-type antipersonnel mines could be used in command-detonated mode in compliance with the treaty, these stockpiled mines were excessive and unsuitable for use, and that it had plans to destroy them. The POM-2 antipersonnel mines were destroyed in 2018 by the company Ukroboronprom.

[48] Ukraine Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, 1 April 2019, Form B.

[49] Statement of Ukraine, Mine Ban Treaty Fourth Review Conference, Oslo, 29 November 2019.

[50] The requirement to destroy almost six million PFM-type antipersonnel mines was a key obstacle that prevented Ukraine from rapidly ratifying the Mine Ban Treaty. PFM mines contain a liquid explosive filling (VS6-D) that makes them dangerous and difficult to destroy, and requires sophisticated pollution control measures. In mid-2003, a European Commission (EC) technical study determined that the condition of Ukraine’s PFM stockpiles was good. The mines were consolidated into two sites, from a previous total of 13 storage locations. See, ICBL, Landmine Monitor Report 2006: Toward a Mine-Free World (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada, July 2006), p. 765.

[51] Statement of Ukraine, Committee on Stockpile Destruction, Mine Ban Treaty intersessional meetings, held virtually, 22 June 2021.