Experience in demining Kherson region presented at a forum in the Czech Republic

The Future Forces Forum 2024 was recently held in the Czech Republic. Among the topics was the experience of demining Kherson region.

This was reported by the press service of the Kherson Regional Military Administration.

The post says that after the de-occupation of the right bank , 683,000 hectares of territory were mined. At the time, it was predicted that it would take decades or even centuries to clear the explosives.

"We have significantly surpassed the initial forecasts and now Kherson region is the leader in terms of demining and the number of sappers involved. In less than two years, about 57% of the right bank has been demined. This is 387 thousand hectares of territory," said Olha Maliarchuk, deputy head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration.

Also participating were Dmytro Kolotun, head of the civil protection planning division of the civil protection planning and material support division of the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Situations of Kherson Regional State Administration, and Oleksandr Shchebetiuk, head of the demining coordination group at Kherson Regional Military Administration.

Photo: Kherson CMA

Initially, there were about 100 sappers clearing the region of mines, but now there are more than 1,100 of them. These are specialists from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service, the National Guard, the State Emergency Service, the National Police, HOKARS and 8 mine action operators. Five canine and two diving teams, as well as 19 mechanized demining vehicles, are also involved in the work. Olha Maliarchuk shared how these results were achieved. This became possible due to the clear and coordinated work of all involved structures. A coordination headquarters for demining has been established in the region, the priority and degree of contamination of each community has been determined, plans have been drawn up and a clear record of the work performed has been organized.

However, despite significant achievements, the region faces new challenges. Among them is the demining of water areas and almost destroyed settlements that need to be restored.

"Another problem is the daily Russian shelling with anti-personnel mines of the Lepestok type. Over the past month alone, 10 people have been injured in such attacks. Together we can solve these problems. To do this, Kherson region needs consolidation of efforts and support from the international community," emphasized Olha Maliarchuk.

Володимир Шкаєв