Poland to resume production of anti-personnel mines to protect its eastern border and for possible export to Ukraine

Poland has decided to start producing anti-personnel mines for the first time since the Cold War and plans to deploy them along its eastern border, and may also export them to Ukraine, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski told Reuters, UNN reports.

Details

Poland began the process of withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention in August and stated that it could start producing anti-personnel mines if needed, but there was no official decision. Zalewski's comments were the first confirmation from Warsaw of its intention to implement this step.

We are interested in large volumes as soon as possible

According to Zalewski, the mines will be part of the "Eastern Shield" – a defense program aimed at strengthening Poland's borders with Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad region.

Asked whether mine production could begin next year, after the completion of the withdrawal process from the Ottawa Convention, Zalewski replied: "I would very much like that... We have such a need."

The official noted that the supply of mines to Ukraine would depend on production capacity.

Addition

The Ottawa Convention was adopted in Oslo on September 18, 1997, and entered into force in 1999. More than 160 countries, including most Western states, have joined it. 

The Baltic states, Poland, and Finland have announced their intention to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines due to the Russian threat.

Recall

In June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on Ukraine's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits anti-personnel mines. The decision of the National Security and Defense Council, adopted on June 29, 2025, enters into force on the day of its publication.