Landmines Clearance: Progress and Challenges Ahead

Since the onset of the full-scale war, the demining units of the security and defense forces have neutralized over 1 million hazardous items. According to the Main Department of Mine Action, nearly 6,500 km² of territory has been surveyed, along with 9,691 km of roads, 10,164 km of power lines, and 3,748 km of railways. Additionally, 37,000 km² of liberated areas have been deemed safe for use after non-technical inspections.
Thanks to coordinated efforts, the pace of demining is accelerating. In 2024, 38 km² was cleared, while in 2025, nearly 150 km² has already been accomplished. Due to contamination from explosive items, 9.85 million hectares of agricultural land across 10 regions remain unsafe—this accounts for almost a quarter of all agricultural land in Ukraine. Over 13.9 million hectares of Ukrainian soil have been affected by hostilities, as reported by the Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy via the Telegram channel of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Both state institutions and certified private demining operators are involved in the clearance of agricultural lands. International partners are also actively contributing to these efforts. For instance, Ukraine is purchasing demining equipment from the Croatian manufacturer DOK-ING for humanitarian demining.
Currently, 69 DOK-ING machines are operational in 10 regions of Ukraine, having cleared over 25 million m² of land and neutralized more than 10,000 explosive items.