Since the beginning of the full-scale war, sappers from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and the National Police have cleared more than 2,400 km² of Ukrainian territory.
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Bohdan Drapiatyi reported this on Facebook following a meeting with international donors at the Office of Mine Action.
"Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, sappers from the State Emergency Service and the National Police have cleared over 2,400 km². To put this into perspective, this area is nearly equivalent to the size of Luxembourg," he noted.
According to the deputy minister, it is no exaggeration to say that over three years of full-scale war, Ukraine has become a global hub for humanitarian demining.
"Ukrainian sappers have tested almost all modern technologies, developed an effective methodology for using mechanized demining machines and unmanned aerial vehicles," Drapiatyi stated.
He emphasized that providing Ukraine with assistance in clearing explosive hazards is an investment in food security, environmental safety, energy security, and social stability.
Drapiatyi also noted that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has 106 mechanized demining vehicles at its disposal and expressed gratitude for every country's and organization's contribution to strengthening Ukraine's civil protection sector.
"We are especially grateful for mechanized demining machines (a total of 106 in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine), high-quality personal protective equipment, armored vehicles for transporting personnel and explosive devices, metal detectors, and other critically important assistance," he said.
Additionally, the deputy minister emphasized that Ukraine has made significant progress in applying innovative technologies for humanitarian demining, combining them with traditional methods to maximize efficiency and quality.
"Drones equipped with magnetometers are already in operation, detecting surface anomalies and identifying locations of explosive ordnance," Drapiatyi informed.
