The Pentagon has included relics from the Cold War in its latest package of weapons for Ukraine to help counter Russian advances and limit their ability to maneuver during an expected spring offensive. The package includes M21 anti-tank land mines, which have been in service with the Defense Department since at least the early 1960s. An unknown number of these mines will be sent to Ukraine as part of a $325 million aid package from U.S. military stockpiles. This marks the 36th transfer of lethal matériel to Kyiv since August 2021.
M21 mines are large metal-bodied weapons that are usually buried and explode when a vehicle drives over them. They contain a specialized warhead built to punch through inches of armor plating. According to Maj. Charlie Dietz, a Pentagon spokesperson, “Anti-tank land mines are an important defensive capability against Russia’s tanks and armored vehicles, helping Ukraine’s forces repel Russia’s attacks and shape the battlefield to Ukraine’s advantage.”
2023-04-21 11:23:38
Article from www.nytimes.com