United to win: Slovakian volunteers fundraise for Božena-5 demining machine for Ukraine

Slovakian volunteers completed a fundraising campaign to purchase the Božena-5 demining machine. 

The campaign was supported by the Embassy of Ukraine Slovakia,  Rubryka reports, citing the statement of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

What is the problem?

Ukraine always takes time to discuss the issue of humanitarian demining and the supply of the necessary equipment, training pyrotechnicians, and financial support at meetings with foreign partners. 

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war, the 174,000 square meters of Ukrainian land have been contaminated by mines and explosives, with more than 5 million Ukrainians living in these territories.

So far, Ukraine has 20 demining machines, three of which are in the war-battered Kharkiv region, and about 3,000 demining specialists. These capacities are insufficient.

What is the solution?

"The fundraising campaign to purchase the Božena-5 demining machine for Ukraine has ended in Slovakia, which was possible with the efforts of the Embassy of Ukraine in Slovakia, the Slovak association Mier Ukraine, and the organization Darček pre Putina," the statement said.

How does it work?

The Ukrainian representative office added that the Slovakian demining manufacturer The Way Industries will produce the Božena-5 system and send it to Ukraine by the end of this year.

The company will also send additional equipment and train sappers to work with the machine.

Ukrainians already use Bozena-5 machines, demining the Kharkiv and Kherson regions. Already in 2022, Slovakia transferred 10 Bozena-5 systems to Ukraine. They are remotely controlled and can clear an area of up to 9 kilometers in an hour.

Rubryka reported that Ukraine's defense ministry is negotiating with the Croatian DOK-ING and Slovakian Way Industries to put the production of mechanized demining machines in Ukraine.

What we know about Bozena-5

Bozena-5 is a tracked remote-controlled demining machine of Slovak production. It clears various types of mines, including anti-tank, anti-personnel, and anti-tank trap mines. Bozena-5 is used in normal terrain and populated areas to remove explosive objects after active hostilities.

The demining process is controlled by an operator from an armored cabin, which is protected from damage by the detonation of ammunition by an armored shield located in the front of the machine.

Rubryka reported that Western-style robotic systems for demining will be manufactured in Ukraine. South Korea will also provide Ukraine with two Rhino minefield clearing machines.