10 new demining battalions created in Ukraine: significant achievements and plans for the future

In 2024, 10 new demining battalions were created in Ukraine, which was an important step in combating the consequences of war and clearing territories from explosive objects. This information was announced by the Head of the Main Department of Mine Action, Civil Protection and Environmental Safety of the Ministry of Defense, Colonel Ruslan Beregulya, during a speech at the Demine Ukraine Forum.

One of the main achievements of this year was the conduct of an initial non-technical survey in the territory of 59 territorial communities. During the surveys, 4,219 contaminated sites with a total area of ​​​​558 square kilometers were identified. These data emphasize the scale of the problem and the importance of continuing demining in all liberated territories.

Thanks to the efforts of specialists, it was possible to significantly reduce the area of ​​​​potentially contaminated territories, reducing it from 174 thousand to 139 thousand square kilometers. This result was made possible by the active use of the latest technologies and equipment for demining, which allows for faster and more efficient land clearing.

In parallel with the growth in the number of battalions, Ukraine has increased the fleet of mechanized demining vehicles from two to 52 units. Currently, the main part of the equipment is represented by foreign developments, among which we can note the DOK-ING, Bažena, GCS, Hydrema and Scan Jack machines, as well as the Ukrainian MP-3101 equipment, which is actively used in the works.

Given the complexity of the task and the importance of the safety of sappers, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine actively invites developers of the latest technologies for demining to cooperate. According to Colonel Oleg Shuvarsky, Head of the Mine Action Department, the Ministry of Defense is ready to conduct preliminary tests of innovative projects at its base, which will contribute to increasing the safety of sappers and improving the efficiency of demining.

These initiatives demonstrate a serious approach to the restoration of war-torn territories of Ukraine and indicate the readiness of the state to apply advanced technologies to ensure the safety of citizens and sappers. It is expected that in the future, thanks to this experience and cooperation with international partners, the pace of demining in Ukraine will increase significantly.