Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko estimates that it will take years to clear the land of Ukraine from mines and explosives.
Almost 25 percent of Ukraine’s surface area is contaminated by mines and various explosives, says the country’s interior minister Ihor Klymenko Ukrainian In an interview with the Interfax news agency.
According to him, Ukrainian authorities have found and destroyed more than 780,000 explosives in two years.
According to Klymenko, the areas reclaimed by Ukraine are the most densely mined. Ukrainian state according to the news agency Ukrinfom the most mined areas are Kharkiv, Kherson and Donetsk.
Demining efforts will be focused back on occupied areas to allow Ukrainian authorities to return there and to repair critical infrastructure.
At least 289 civilians have been killed by mines
Klymenko says that Ukraine has received a lot of foreign aid for demining. According to him, the equipment aid received by Ukraine in particular will speed up the task.
In an interview with Interfax, Klymenko also says that 108 employees of the rescue service have already died during mine clearance operations.
According to Klymenko, 289 civilians have already died from mines and other explosives found in the country, of which 15 are children.
Among the dead are several farmers whose fields were not checked for mines and explosives.
According to Klymenko, removing mines and explosives from Ukrainian lands will take several years.