Landmines, once widely banned under international treaties, have seen a troubling return in Europe, especially due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. According to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), as of mid-2025, approximately 25% of Ukraine was affected by landmines and unexploded ordnance. Since February 2022, over 1,150 civilians have been killed or injured by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), with the cost of full demining estimated at nearly $35 billion (around €30 billion) over the next decade.

In 2025, more than 5,000 people, mainly civilians, were killed or injured by landmines or unexploded ordnance, according to a preliminary analysis by the NGO Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor. Decades after the Yugoslav wars (1991–2001), landmines continue to cause casualties in former Yugoslavia, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The conflict has also influenced treaty participation. Poland, Finland (which joined NATO after Russia's invasion of Ukraine), Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—all with histories of Russian aggression—have withdrawn from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans anti-personnel mines. This move sets a "dangerous precedent," as other parties to the treaty might follow suit under extreme conflict conditions, potentially undermining the treaty's legitimacy.

Humanitarian arms control, including the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, was previously considered one of the few effective areas of arms control. However, the current situation reveals challenges, with mines still being laid in Ukraine and other countries like Myanmar.

Raheela Bibi, a civilian affected by landmines, recounted to DW in 2023 the difficulties she faced continuing her education after a landmine explosion injured her siblings. Her story underscores the ongoing human toll of these weapons.

The strategic use of landmines is partly due to the military advantage of injuring rather than killing soldiers, as an injured soldier strains enemy resources more than a dead one.

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