Ukraine’s demining efforts could stretch to a century, sapper warns

Ukraine faces the monumental challenge of clearing mines, as the chaotic and undocumented mining practices hinder demining efforts. Experts warn the process could take up to a century in some areas, posing a severe and ongoing threat to civilians in liberated regions.

In the course of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, Russian forces might have contaminated some 30% of Ukraine’s territory, or about 174,000 square kilometers, with mines and unexploded ordnance, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.

Artem Yevtushenko, Support Group Commander with the Rubizh National Guard Regiment, shed light on the situation in an interview with Ukrinform.

“The threat [of the undocumented mining] is really big, especially for Kyiv region. The war there unfolded quickly and ended just as quickly, but it left behind chaotic minefields,” Yevtushenko said.

The commander explained that during the conflict, both Ukrainian and Russian forces planted mines, often without proper documentation. This lack of accurate mapping has made detection and clearance efforts significantly more challenging.

“The mines were left without proper communication between units, and many simply forgot where exactly they had planted them. Russian troops, when advancing or retreating, mined the areas chaotically,” Yevtushenko added.

Demining efforts have prioritized villages and agricultural areas to protect civilians and enable farming activities. However, Yevtushenko noted that forests and meadows remain heavily contaminated with unexploded ordnance and anti-personnel mines.

When asked about the timeframe for complete demining, Yevtushenko provided a sobering estimate:

“If we take into account a year of active hostilities, then it will take up to 10 years to completely demine these territories. And if we talk about Donetsk and Luhansk [oblasts], where the war has been going on for almost a decade, this process can drag on for 100 years.”

The commander stressed that this timeline assumes a complete cessation of hostilities and unhindered access for demining teams.

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