Zelenskyy to withdraw Kyiv from anti-personnel landmine ban treaty

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that he had signed a decree to withdraw Ukraine from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the production and use of anti-personnel mines. He described the move as necessary due to Russia’s tactics in the ongoing war, now in its 40th month. Ukraine had originally ratified the treaty in 2005. Other nations bordering Russia, including Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, have also either left the agreement or signaled their intention to do so.

In his nightly address, Zelenskyy noted that Russia had never joined the convention and was employing anti-personnel mines with "utter cynicism," alongside other weapons like ballistic missiles. "This is the hallmark of Russian aggressors—to destroy life by any means available," he said. "We see how our European neighbors are responding to this threat. We also understand the complications of withdrawing during war, but we take this political step to signal to our partners what requires attention—especially for nations bordering Russia." He emphasized that in defensive scenarios, mines sometimes have no viable alternative.

Massive Russian Air Assault Reported

Overnight into Sunday, Russia launched over 500 aerial weapons at Ukraine in what officials labeled the largest air assault since the war began three years ago. Ukraine’s air force reported that the attack included 477 drones and decoy weapons, as well as 60 missiles. While 475 of these were intercepted or malfunctioned, the assault marked the most extensive airstrike since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for the air force. Three people were killed in the assault, while two others died in separate shelling attacks.

Pilot Killed in Battle Honored Posthumously

A Ukrainian F-16 pilot, Maksym Ustymenko, died while repelling the air attack. Zelenskyy posthumously awarded him the title of Hero of Ukraine, the country’s highest honor. According to the air force, Ustymenko managed to steer his damaged aircraft away from populated areas but could not eject before crashing. "The pilot used all his onboard weapons to down seven enemy targets. While engaging the final one, his jet was hit and began losing altitude," the air force stated.

Kremlin Warns of Sanctions Consequences

In remarks published Sunday, the Kremlin warned that Europe’s increasing sanctions against Russia would ultimately harm European economies, claiming Moscow had developed resilience against such measures. The European Commission proposed new sanctions on June 10, targeting Russia’s energy income, banking sector, and military industry. The U.S., however, has not yet intensified its own sanctions.

Russia’s intelligence chief also disclosed that he had spoken with his U.S. counterpart, marking their second official dialogue since mid-March amid attempts at diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Washington.