The Ministry of Defence experts analyzed the level of soil contamination in three areas in the Mykolaiv region that had already been cleared of mines, specifically in the vicinity of the town of Snihurivka and near the village of Kyselivka in the Pervomaisk community, which had suffered extensive damage from shelling and occupation.

Soil samples were collected in areas with the most damaged genetic soil horizons. The military ecologists used a GNSS HiPer SR geodetic GPS receiver to determine the exact coordinates.

A rapid screening for heavy metals was carried out with the help of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and the ProSpektor-3 tool. Military ecologists have uncovered the following elements:

• strontium
• zirconium
• iron
• potassium
• calcium
• titanium
• magnesium
• barium, and other chemical elements

The selected soil samples will be comprehensively analyzed at the Center of Excellence for Mine Action and Environmental Safety's stationary laboratory, employing appropriate techniques.

Colonel Ruslan Berehulia, Head of the Main Directorate of Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety, noted that the inspections are being conducted in line with the decision of the National Mine Action Agency, approved by the Prime Minister of Ukraine.

“Recommendations for the future agricultural use of cleared land in Ukraine will be formulated by the Cabinet of Ministers based on the findings. We need to guarantee that these areas are safely returned to economic activity,” he added.

Soil contamination inspections are conducted with the participation of representatives of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, the State Emergency Service, and other central governmental agencies. Plans include taking samples in Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions.