Finland Plans Landmines After Ottawa-Ban Exit

Finland’s accession to NATO on April 04, 2023 more than doubled the length of the border of the western military alliance with Russia | Image: NATO

Finland’s Defence Forces have begun preparations to acquire anti-personnel landmines and to introduce training following the country’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention. The withdrawal took effect on January 10, enabling the Defence Forces to plan procurement and training related to anti-personnel landmines.

Finland, along with Poland and the three Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania had announced their withdrawal from the Ottawa treaty, last year. All five NATO countries share borders with Russia. Ukraine had also announced its intention to withdraw from the treaty but it has not taken formal steps, yet.

According to the Finnish Defence Forces, anti-personnel landmine capability will be developed as part of engineer materiel projects under existing planning and procurement procedures. The capability is intended to complement other counter-mobility measures, such as anti-tank mines and terrain-based obstacles, within the Defence Forces’ operational framework.

“For the Defence Forces, anti-personnel landmines are one addition to our system in a time when strengthening defence capability is particularly important. In the Defence Forces’ operations, anti-personnel mines will be made part of counter mobility, which involves blocking the enemy’s movement by means of anti-tank mines and various types of obstacles taking advantage of the natural obstacle value of the terrain,” said Inspector of Engineers, Colonel Riku Mikkonen, at the Army Command.

He added, “We will use mines only in emergency conditions in accordance with units’ plans in combat areas as part of other use of fire. In peacetime, anti-personnel mine training will be conducted using training equipment.”

The Defence Forces said that the use of anti-personnel landmines would be governed by specific plans and supervision. Training will focus on responsible use, including marking, documentation, monitoring, and selecting areas to reduce the risk of harm to civilians and friendly forces.

Training instructions currently being prepared indicate that training for professional military personnel will begin in early 2026. Conscripts will receive training starting with Contingent 1/2026, while reservists will be trained during refresher exercises depending on their assigned tasks. The instructions also define the equipment and procedures to be used and the stages of conscript service at which training will occur.

In the initial phase, directed fragmentation charges will be used for training, as these can function as mines and are already in service. The Defence Forces plan to develop new anti-personnel mines in cooperation with Finland’s domestic defence industry, with discussions expected to begin in early 2026. Developments in foreign systems and potential supply options will also be monitored.

The Defence Forces said the mines initially sought would be simple and easy to use, with more advanced technologies—such as sensors, remote control, and auto-neutralisation—considered later. “Aspects taken into account in the consideration of new anti-personnel landmines include, among others, the security environment, quantities of mines to be stockpiled in peacetime, and the ability to produce new mines quickly in emergency conditions. A more accurate estimate of the cost of these acquisitions will be obtained as the planning advances. At any rate, the production of anti-personnel mines will involve several years,” Colonel Mikkonen said.

The first new mines and training equipment are expected to become available during 2027, after which anti-personnel mine training would become a regular part of conscript and reservist programmes.