Ukraine officially exits Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel mines

This information is posted on the official website of the President of Ukraine.

Decree No. 441/2025 enacts the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated June 29, 2025, "On Ukraine’s withdrawal from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction dated September 18, 1997."

The responsibility for overseeing the implementation of this decision is assigned to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

The decision states: "Guided by Ukraine’s national interests and with the purpose of protecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine has resolved:

1. To support the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine regarding Ukraine’s withdrawal from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction dated September 18, 1997.
2. To instruct the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to urgently take the necessary steps in the prescribed manner to ensure Ukraine’s withdrawal from the said Convention."

Earlier, Ukrainian Member of Parliament and Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, SBU Colonel Roman Kostenko, announced the signing of the decree on his Facebook page. He explained that this international treaty bans the use, stockpiling, and production of anti-personnel mines.

"I have just been informed that the President of Ukraine signed a decree enacting the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine regarding our country’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention — an international treaty prohibiting the use, stockpiling, and production of anti-personnel mines," Kostenko stated.

The deputy emphasized that this step is "required by the harsh reality of war." He stressed that the Russian Federation is not a party to the Ottawa Convention and actively uses mines against Ukrainian military personnel and civilians.

"We cannot remain bound by restrictions while the enemy operates without any limitations," added Roman Kostenko.

Currently, the issue is expected to be considered by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

"The legislative formalization of this decision should finally restore Ukraine’s right to effectively defend its territory," he concluded.

• A day earlier, Lithuania and Estonia notified the United Nations of their withdrawal from the treaty banning anti-personnel mines. The reason is linked to the threat posed by Russia.