Ukraine’s allies allocate $244 mln to boost demining efforts

Ukraine signed a memorandum with international allies to allocate $244 million and special equipment for boosting demining, says Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's economy minister.

What is the problem?

"During the full-scale Russian war, Ukraine has become the most contaminated country in Europe with mines, bombs, and shells. Ukraine needs rapid and thorough humanitarian demining of its territories," Ukraine's PM Denys Shmyhal said.

About 174,000 km² of our land is littered with explosive devices. Ukrainian rescuers state the most mined areas are Kyiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions. It will take at least decades to clear these areas, or 730, according to The Washington Post. 

What is the solution?

"Our donors, including the US, the EU, Japan, Germany, the UK, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Austria, Switzerland, Korea and the Howard Buffett Foundation, will provide Ukraine with a total of more than $244 million for humanitarian demining," Svyrydenko said.

How does it work?

By the end of the year, Ukraine is to receive equipment from foreign partners, including ten demining machines from the Croatian company DOK-ING, ten machines from Global Clearance Solutions, almost 200 pyrotechnic machines, more than 600 metal detectors, and 50 demining machines.

Ukraine is about to receive personal demining kits, explosive protective suits, demining drones, and robotic systems for ammunition disposal.

Demining of Ukrainian territory is a challenge for both the military and farmers. More than a third of the agricultural land identified for priority demining has been surveyed in Ukraine. According to the State Emergency Service, since the beginning of Russia's war outset, more than 411,000 explosive devices, including more than 3,000 aircraft bombs, have been destroyed.