Speech of the head of the delegation of the Russian Federation, Deputy Director of the Department of Non-Proliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs K.V. Vorontsov at the 28th Annual Conference of the States Parties to the Second Amended Protocol to the Convention on "Inhumane" Weapons on "General Exchange of Views" (Geneva, November 13, 2026).
Dear Madam Chairman,
Russia considers Amended Protocol II (AP-2) an important component of the Convention on Inhumane Weapons (CCW), which establishes an effective restrictive mechanism to prevent the misuse of landmines, which are a legitimate and necessary means of ensuring security for many countries.
We consider the key conditions for realizing the potential of the protocol to be its universality, as well as strict and full implementation of the obligations it grants at the national level.
The Russian report provides updated information on the results of the work of the engineering forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, including in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. These efforts became our country's contribution to the implementation of DP-2.
In addition, during the last reporting period, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continued to take steps to meet the technical requirements for landmines (including anti-personnel and non-personnel mines), and developed new and more effective models of mine search and clearance means.
In particular, they are talking about technical devices for detecting and destroying mines without human intervention - for example, as UAVs. We continue to see this work as a critical prerequisite for reducing the risk of landmines to civilians and military personnel.
Special attention was given to improving techniques and methods of informing the civilian population about combat zones and the use of landmines.