HALO has been conducting mine clearance work in Ukraine since 2015, but HALO’s demining work in the country rapidly increased following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Now with an estimated 2 million plus landmines scattered across the country, deminers are tirelessly working to locate and destroy these lethal devices, both saving innocent lives from harm and protecting the ‘world’s breadbasket.’
Farmland in Ukraine that has been contaminated with landmines and other unexploded ordnance (UXOs) is putting farmers at risk, causing many to stop farming on their land until it has been declared safe for use. This has an impact on global food markets.
In the Kharkiv Oblast, the first six plots of demined land have been returned to the community. Our specialists worked around the villages of Petrivske and Pechenygi to clear the land of explosive threats. Through clearing access roads, forests and critical transportation points, the residents now have access to the surrounding fields once again.
The 120,000 square meters of cleared land, now returned to the community, will enable people to live and work in safety. We will continue our work, aiming to return more land back as soon as possible, ensuring that communities can live, work, and play in safety.
