Solutions to win: Kharkiv region unveils first-ever domestic demining machine

In Kharkiv, a team of inventors created the first specialized machine in Ukraine for preparing soil for demining. The device, developed by Kharkiv experts, has already been handed over to explosives technicians for use.

The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Synehubov, reported this.

What is the problem?

125,000 sappers were needed for demining the Kharkiv region affected by the Russian occupiers in one year, but today, only a few hundred of them work in the region. Professional sappers primarily demine power lines and critical infrastructure.

In addition, 20 demining machines are operating in Ukraine today, three of which are in the Kharkiv region. These capacities are insufficient to speed up the clearance of the country's territory from mines and explosives.

Therefore, at every meeting with foreign partners, the issue of supplying the necessary equipment, training of pyrotechnicians, and financial support for humanitarian demining is raised.

However, Ukrainian engineers also joined the development of demining machines.

What is the solution?

"The development of Kharkiv manufacturers – a machine for preparing the soil for demining has passed the appropriate certification. The manufacturing company has already received a certificate of conformity and a declaration of conformity, allowing to establish its production and use it for demining territories," the Ministry of Economy noted.

The Kharkiv region purchased two such machines, each worth 5.6 million hryvnias, using the funds of the regional budget. The first one has already been placed at the disposal of explosives technicians; the second one will arrive by the end of November.

"With the funds of the regional budget, we purchased two such copies worth 5.6 million hryvnias each. For comparison, the price of similar foreign mechanisms starts at 500,000 euros," emphasized the head of the regional military administration.

How does it work?

According to Synehubov, this machine was tested for more than a year.

"The equipment is easy to use and maintain, and it is also significantly cheaper than foreign analogs. At the same time, it is absolutely not inferior in efficiency, as well as neutralizing anti-personnel and anti-tank mines," Syneрubov said.

^{The first machine in Ukraine for preparing soil for demining was given to the rescuers of the Kharkiv region. October 27, 2023. Photo: Larysa Hovyna/Suspilne Kharkiv}

The head of the region emphasized that the machine is equipped with an automatic control panel for video surveillance cameras, which reduces risks for operators.

"The remote control, which communicates with the control system, is in the machine. It works from 300 meters at a safe distance so as not to injure the operator. The machine is equipped with four cameras – behind and in front. The camera can record online. You can then review the entire work. You can add more speed, you can reduce it," engineer Serhii Bulava says.

^{Engineer Serhiy Bulava and a demining machine. October 27, 2023. Photo: Larysa Hovyna/Suspilne Kharkiv}

This is the ninth demining machine that will work in the Kharkiv region. But the first one is of Kharkiv production.

According to the developer, the demining machine can operate at a speed of 3-4 km per hour.

"It drives, hits an obstacle, and blows up. If it hits an anti-tank mine, the car will fall apart, but it will quickly recover.

The trawl is quickly restored, and the machine continues to work. The total weight of the device is 16 tons. Recovery depends on the damage and availability of spare parts. The maximum is three days of recovery," said the engineer.

^{Photo: Kharkiv Regional Military Administration}

The head of the regional military administration said that the prototype was tested for four months in "combat conditions" – it has already detonated more than 300 anti-personnel mines.

The equipment works remotely, at a distance of 300 meters, so there is no danger of damage to people by debris. In addition, it has four cameras, which helps in management.

^{The first machine in Ukraine for preparing soil for demining was given to the rescuers of the Kharkiv region. October 27, 2023. Photo: Larysa Hovyna/Suspilne Kharkiv}

"It is also capable of neutralizing 95% of all mines. The training of operators will last several weeks. And we will immediately direct the machine to one of the most littered areas," the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration specified.

In her turn, Yuliia Svyridenko, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Economy, congratulated Kharkiv developers.

"I congratulate the Kharkiv manufacturers who created the first domestic machine for preparing soil for demining and successfully passed certification.

This is an excellent example for all domestic inventors and manufacturers… We will in every way contribute to such development, as well as localization based on Ukrainian enterprises for the production of equipment of foreign models," she noted.

For reference:

It should be noted that in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region, a local enterprise has created a demining trawl, which will be able to help clear the land of dangerous ammunition.

In addition, in the Balakliia community of the Izium district of the Kharkiv region, a demining machine was manufactured and put into operation by specialists of the region.