EU will allocate additional 1 million euros for demining Ukraine — Borrell
One million euros will be allocated by the European Union additionally for demining the territories of Ukraine, which are contaminated with shells and mines due to russia's aggression.
This was stated by the EU's head diplomat Josep Borrell before the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the OSCE.
The diplomat noted that it is at the meeting that he will present an offer of support to Ukraine from the EU and will announce financial aid for demining.
Borrell already met with the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, on the sidelines of the meeting in Lodz. The Minister presented Borrell with the Ukrainian Order of Merit, 1st degree.
The russian-Ukrainian war will be at the center of attention at the two-day meeting in Lodz, Poland. According to Borrell, the meeting will also discuss the strengthening of the OSCE and the creation of a new security order in Europe.
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What is known about explosive objects in the country
Rescuers warn that unexploded shells can be found in abandoned houses, open air, fields, forests, roadsides, and children's playgrounds.
If you find an explosive or suspicious item:
- don't touch it
- move at least 100 meters away,
- mark the spot with a stick, clothes, stones, etc.,
- warn other people nearby
- report the find by calling the following numbers: 101 — State Emergency Service, 102 — police.
You can find what the most common explosive objects look like on the website of the State Emergency Service.
Demining of Ukraine
The State Emergency Service reported that approximately 30% of the territory of Ukraine (about 180,000 km²) was mined due to russia's invasion. This is more than two territories of Austria or five territories of Moldova.
Currently, sappers are actively clearing the de-occupied territories of the Kherson region and Mykolaiv region. More than 8,000 km² are to be demined there.
Of them, about 7,000 km² are in the Kherson region, and up to 1,500 km² are in the Mykolaiv region.
Complete demining of Ukraine will take 5 to 10 years.
