Mykolaiv Oblast Demining Efforts Clear 26,000 Hectares, 70,000 Explosives Neutralized

Large-scale demining of the areas affected by the hostilities continues in Mykolaiv Oblast. Pyrotechnic units and humanitarian demining operators have already cleared more than 26,000 hectares of land.

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

In particular, sappers have cleared 1105 km of power lines, 570 km of railroad tracks, 514 km of roads, 512 km of irrigation canals, 136 km of gas pipelines, as well as large areas of water, forests, critical infrastructure and private farms. In total, more than 70,000 explosive devices have been neutralized, including 89 aircraft bombs.

Experts also completed a primary non-technical survey in five communities in Mykolaiv district: Sukhoyelanetska, Kostiantynivska, Vesnianska, Radsadivska and Volodymyrivska.

The JMA noted that demining continues according to the plan: in 2025, it is planned to clear more than 11,000 hectares of agricultural land, of which 2,455 hectares have already been surveyed and 1,024 hectares have been cleared.

Currently, 169 pyrotechnic groups are working in the region, including 1,008 specialists and 20 units of specialized equipment. The operations involve units of the State Emergency Service, the Armed Forces, the State Service of Ukraine for Civil Defense, the National Police, as well as six international and five Ukrainian mine action operators.

Prior to that, UNDP and Mykolaiv discussed demining issues and the need to strengthen cooperation. In the near future, the needs of the region will be analyzed and priority areas for demining will be identified in 2025.

Last year, experts from the Ministry of Defense conducted a study of soil contamination at three demined sites in Mykolaiv region that suffered from shelling and occupation. Soil samples were collected in the areas with the most damaged soil layers near Snihurivka and near the village of Kyselivka in the Pervomaisk community.

It is estimated that it will take up to five years for Ukraine to clear hundreds of sea mines in the waters of Mykolaiv and Kherson. It is planned to involve four countries in the demining.

Андрій Колісніченко