Britain Send Detectors And Disposal Devices To Ukraine, Defense Minister Ben Wallace: Use Of Russian Invasion Land Mines

Ukrainian mine seeker. (Wikimedia Commons/dsns.gov.ua/State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

JAKARTA - Britain said on Friday it had provided Ukraine with more than 1,000 metal detectors and 100 equipment to disable bombs to help clear minefields, the latest example of military support for the country in conflict with Russia.

"The use of landmines by Russia and targeting civilian infrastructure underscores the surprising atrocities of Putin's invasion," British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in a statement.

"This latest UK support package will help Ukraine clean up land and buildings by the same time the country reclaims its legitimate territory," the statement continued.

The metal detector, created by German company Vallon, can help troops clear safe routes on roads and footpaths by helping to eliminate the danger of explosions, the Defense Ministry said. Meanwhile, the disposal equipment can turn off the axis of the unexploded bomb.

Minister Wallace said on Thursday Britain would allocate 2.3 billion to Ukraine in military aid by 2023, according to the amount he has given this year.

Earlier this month, Minister Wallace said he would "open-minded" to supply Ukraine with a remote weapon system, if Russia continued to target civilian territory.

Speaking to parliament, Wallace was asked by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a vocal Ukrainian supporter, about a possible supply of long-range missile systems to Kyiv to destroy or damage drone launch sites.

"I'm constantly reviewing the weapons systems we can provide," Wallace told parliament at the time.

"We also have a longer potential armored weapon system and if Russia continues to target civilian territory and tries to violate the Geneva Convention, then I will be open to seeing what we will do next," he said, referring to basic humanitarian principles approval during the war.