Since the onset of the full-scale war, Ukraine has made significant strides in clearing landmines, with emergency response teams demining nearly 200,000 hectares and neutralizing around 600,000 explosive devices. This information was shared by Serhiy Reva, the head of the Department of Mine Action at the State Emergency Service, during a recent briefing.
Reva noted that Ukraine is currently one of the most heavily mined countries globally. Approximately 133,300 square kilometers, or about 20% of the nation’s territory, remains contaminated with unexploded ordnance, particularly in areas that are either temporarily occupied or experiencing active combat.
The situation is further complicated by significant contamination of maritime areas, which will only be addressed once the conflict concludes.
Currently, the demining efforts are being carried out by a workforce of 2,400 pyrotechnicians, a substantial increase from the roughly 600 personnel before the war began.
In a related development, the Ministry of Defense announced plans for humanitarian demining in liberated territories starting in 2026. This initiative will incorporate digital solutions to prioritize land clearance based on extensive data analysis.
Additionally, the Ministry of Economy has estimated that Ukraine will require approximately $29.8 billion for demining operations, a figure that is $4.8 billion lower than previous estimates.
Ukraine is facing a daunting challenge in landmine clearance as it continues to recover from the ongoing conflict. With a significant portion of its territory contaminated, the nation is ramping up efforts and resources to address this pressing issue.
Source: Укрінформ