EU donates advanced demining system to Ukraine
The Ukrainian State Special Transport Service has received a MV-10 mine-clearing system as a part of the European Union’s EUR 25 million support package for humanitarian demining that was announced at the EU-Ukraine Summit in Feb. 2022, the EU’s press service reported on Feb. 7.
The package is designed to meet the urgent needs of Ukraine’s state demining operators, ranging from basic equipment for demining teams to mine-clearing vehicles and robotic demining systems.
“While fighting off the aggressor, Ukraine is at the same time already rebuilding,” said EU High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP) Josep Borrell during his two-day official visit to Ukraine.
“Its mine clearing operators are taking on the extremely dangerous but essential task of clearing liberated land from the deadly mines Russian aggressors left behind. We are honored to make the work of Ukrainian de-miners safer and more efficient with this European equipment. Together we can help save lives and contribute to a better future for Ukraine.”
The MV-10 demining system clears both anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, as well as other unexploded ordnance, and is particularly suitable for clearing large areas. Its remote control enhances safety for sappers. The system can clear up to 4000 square meters per hour, including steep slopes. This EU demining assistance also includes a special training course for Ukrainian operators who will work with the MV-10 system.
“We are grateful for the European Union’s help,” said Major General Bohdan Bondar, head of the State Special Transport Service Administration.
“This equipment will enhance the capabilities of our forces and allow sappers to demine de-occupied territories faster and more safely. Russian aggression has left behind many explosive objects in Ukraine, and demining will take decades. Technological solutions will accelerate this work.”
Ukraine is one of the most contaminated countries in the world in terms of mines and unexploded ordnance.
Land mines, along with unexploded bombs, artillery shells, and other deadly byproducts of war, have contaminated a swath of Ukraine roughly the size of Florida or Uruguay. It has become the world’s most mined country, the Washington Post wrote on Jul 22, adding that it will take decades to make the country safe.
Earlier assessments from the GLOBSEC analytical center painted a challenging picture, estimating that Ukraine would require a staggering 757 years to demine its territories using conventional methods and available resources.
Ukraine’s Economy Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, said that the scale of contamination of Ukraine with mines and unexploded ordnance is the largest since the Second World War.
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