In reality, Fox News did not publish any such video, and no reputable media outlet has reported on the Ukrainian government making such plans. This narrative is a fabrication, circulated through manipulated content and disinformation channels in an effort to discredit Ukraine and provoke mistrust among its allies.
Pro-Russian sources are circulating a news clip bearing the Fox News logo, claiming that Ukraine plans to mine both its eastern and western borders following its withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention. According to the video, the alleged goal is to prevent military-age men from fleeing the country—a claim that has reportedly raised concerns in neighboring Poland, Hungary, and Romania.
Both the video and the information it contains are entirely fabricated. There is no such segment on the official Fox News website or its verified social media channels. The clip is being shared exclusively by Russian propaganda outlets. Moreover, no credible Western or Ukrainian media organization has reported that the Ukrainian government plans to mine its western border. This is a clear case of media manipulation aimed at spreading fear, undermining Ukraine’s international standing, and stoking tensions with neighboring countries.
The false narrative about Ukraine mining its western border stems from a deliberate misrepresentation of Ukraine’s decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention—a 1997 international treaty banning the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines. Ukraine ratified the Convention in 2005 and, under its provisions, was required to destroy its large stockpile of Soviet-era mines, with technical assistance from the EU and NATO.
The treaty was designed to reduce long-term risks to civilians, particularly in post-conflict zones. However, modern Western-supplied mines—such as those provided to Ukraine by the U.S.—are engineered to minimize civilian harm. Many are equipped with battery-operated fuses that deactivate within two weeks if not triggered, drastically reducing the likelihood of post-war casualties.
Russia never ratified the Ottawa Convention and has consistently used anti-personnel mines against Ukrainian forces since the outset of its full-scale invasion. In response, Ukraine has opted to lift its self-imposed restrictions under the treaty, citing the need to defend its territory against ongoing Russian aggression.
This move aligns with similar decisions by several European countries—including Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, and Estonia—that have also withdrawn from or distanced themselves from the Convention in recent years. Each cited the rising threat from Russia as justification for regaining the flexibility to use all available defensive tools. Ukraine’s decision reflects a broader regional shift in security posture amid escalating threats from Moscow.
StopFake has previously debunked other false claims propagated by Russian media, including the unfounded allegation that Ukraine has deployed banned Italian-made landmines.
