30% of Ukraine mined, twice the area of Austria, says emergency service
Rescuers carry out demining in the de-occupied territories of the Kherson Oblast (Photo:Murad Sezer/Reuters)
A total of 30% of the territory has been mined in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, an area twice the size of Austria, the head of Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, Serhiy Kruk, said on Ukrainian national television on Nov. 18.
“The area that has been mined and amount of landmines have increased tenfold compared to the period when we were not (in the full-scale) war,” he said.
Kruk also spoke about the situation with mine clearance in the liberated areas of Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts.
According to him, more than 8,000 square kilometers now have to be cleared of mines.
“That includes about 7,000 square kilometers in Kherson Oblast and up to 1,500 square kilometers in Mykolayiv Oblast,” the official said.
Many territories have been mined in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the conduct of active hostilities.
The Interior Ministry and the State Emergency Service predict it may take up to 10 years to complete the mine clearance of the country.
According to the Interior Ministry, about 270,000 square kilometers of land in Ukraine will have to be cleared of mines, including in currently Russian-occupied territories.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian sappers carry out demining work every day, the Emergencies Service said.
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