Wednesday 14 October 2026
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Civilians take on dangerous task of clearing landmines in eastern Ukraine

As the war enters its fourth year, Ukraine faces what is described as the world's most severe mine contamination crisis

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time1 min
In a field in eastern Ukraine that was occupied by Russian forces four years ago, civilians are now painstakingly digging out landmines by hand. The work, undertaken by volunteers such as 58-year-old Olena Kabanova in the Kharkiv region, reflects the immense scale of contamination that makes vast areas of the country unusable for farming and daily life.

Landmines are a persistent scourge of conflict zones, leaving land dangerous and unusable long after fighting ends. In Ukraine, which is often described as the most mine-contaminated country in the world, the problem has been worsened by the use of long-range drones to scatter mines across contested territory. Removing them is an expensive and dangerous job, and with the war ongoing, new mines are being laid faster than old ones can be cleared.

Civilians like Kabanova, using shovels and mine detectors, are attempting to restore fields to a usable state. The work is slow: each suspicious object must be carefully uncovered by hand. The scale of contamination has been compared to that seen in Vietnam, and demining efforts face a daunting task with limited resources.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Landmine contamination renders vast areas of agricultural land unusable, threatening Ukraine's food production and economic recovery.
  • Civilian deminers, often without formal training or protective equipment, are risking their lives to restore land for daily use.
  • The increasing use of long-range drones to scatter mines creates a more diffuse and unpredictable threat that will take decades to clear.

Background

Ukraine has been heavily mined since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. Both sides have used landmines, but the widespread use of remote-delivery systems such as drones is a relatively new development that amplifies the scale of contamination. After areas are recaptured by Ukrainian forces, the slow and dangerous work of demining begins, often undertaken by civilians with minimal support.

Key Perspectives

Civilian deminers: People like Olena Kabanova in the Kharkiv region perform manual mine clearance to make fields and roads safe, despite personal risk and a lack of formal training or protective equipment. Military and government authorities: Face the challenge of coordinating demining across thousands of square kilometres while the conflict continues and new mines are laid. International humanitarian organisations: Provide training and equipment but are overwhelmed by the scope of contamination, which is on a scale not seen since the Vietnam War.

What to Watch

  • Expansion of drone-laid minefields across frontline areas.
  • Funding for demining operations from international donors.
  • Casualty figures among civilian deminers and non-combatants.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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