Campaigners sound alarm as European nations move to exit landmine ban

In announcing their plans earlier this year, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania all pointed to the escalating military threat from Russia. Campaigners described the decisions – the first reversals among its more than 165 signatories – as a shocking step backwards. “The point is that when you put a mine in the ground, you never know what will happen. Each year between 70% and 85% of those who are killed or injured by landmines around the world are civilians. Ješić described it as a cautionary tale for any country thinking about scattering these weapons across their lands.