Lithuania and Finland, which recently announced their withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel mines, have declared their intention to establish their own production of these weapons for further supply to Ukraine.
This is reported by Business • Media
Lithuania Invests in Large-Scale Mine Production
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense has confirmed plans for significant investments in the production of both anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. According to representatives of the ministry, the government plans to allocate “hundreds of millions of euros” for these needs. It is expected that the number of mines produced will reach tens of thousands, if not more. Once production is launched, Lithuania will be able to export these munitions not only to the domestic market but also to other countries, including Ukraine.
Finnish Companies Prepare for Mine Production
In Finland, four defense companies—Nammo Lapua, Insta, Raikka, and Forcit Explosives—have expressed readiness or interest in creating anti-personnel mines. The chairman of the Finnish Parliament’s Defense Committee, Heikki Autto, noted the effectiveness of this type of weapon, emphasizing:
“they are a highly effective and very economical weapon system.” He stated that the state is also prepared to supply anti-personnel mines to Ukraine for the security of Finland itself.
Through such measures, Finland plans not only to strengthen its own defense capabilities but also to support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
It is worth noting that at the end of June 2025, Ukraine also announced its withdrawal from the 1997 Ottawa Convention to improve its own defense against the Russian Federation, which did not join this international treaty. In addition to Ukraine, Lithuania, and Finland, similar decisions have been made by other countries bordering the Russian Federation, including Poland, Latvia, and Estonia.