Over 4,900 hectares of de-occupied territories in Ukraine have been demined since the beginning of the year

In the first three months of this year, units of the Security and Defence Forces and mine action operators carried out extensive efforts to clear Ukrainian territories of mines and explosive remnants of war.

This was announced by the First Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk, during a meeting of the National Mine Action Agency.

In his turn, Colonel Ruslan Berehulia, Head of the Main Directorate of Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety and Head of the Secretariat of the National Mine Action Agency, stated that since the beginning of 2025, demining specialists have surveyed 9,100 hectares of de-occupied territories. A total of 4,930 hectares have already been cleared of explosive ordnance. 

The Security and Defence Forces involved 322 groups (nearly 1,500 specialists) and 22 mechanized demining machines in clearing the territories of explosive ordnance. 

Discussing the results of humanitarian demining in the first quarter of the year, Colonel Ruslan Berehulia noted that mine action operators conducted initial non-technical surveys in 128 territorial communities. As a result of these efforts, 289 contaminated and potentially contaminated sites were identified. 

Secondary non-technical surveys were conducted at 42 sites in 4 regions, and 10 letters of guarantee were issued. 

Additionally, external quality control of demining operations was conducted at 77 sites, covering a total area of 867 hectares.

Colonel Ruslan Berehulia specifically highlighted that the Ministry of Defence is working on mechanisms for phased testing of innovative technologies and developments in mine action. In particular, he highlighted the establishment of an advanced testing site for cutting-edge demining technologies, including those incorporating artificial intelligence. 

Additionally, the National Agency discussed the safe evacuation of children from areas contaminated with explosive ordnance, as well as the mandatory public information on the procedures to follow during the evacuation. Particular attention was given to the need for establishing an international information and innovation training hub for humanitarian demining.