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Complete Demining of Ukraine May Take Decades, UN Expert Says

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Amira_barkhush
Amira Barkhush
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Complete Demining of Ukraine May Take Decades, UN Expert Says
A warning sign ‘Caution! Explosive objects! ’ is installed at the site where Ukrainian deminers from the HALO Trust, a humanitarian non-government organization, clear territories on April 17, 2025, in Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine. (Source: Getty Images)

Full demining of Ukraine will take decades after the end of the war, Ukrinform reported on May 5, citing Paul Heslop, head of the UNDP’s Mine Action Program in Ukraine.

He explained that demining consists of three stages.

“To eliminate the immediate threat that causes harm, it may take about five years. To address the main part of the issue, it will likely take ten to fifteen years,” Heslop stated.

At the same time, he noted that the complete clearance could take much longer.

As an example, Heslop cited Germany and Belgium, where ammunition from World War I and World War II is still being discovered.

“In Belgium, farmers collect what is known as the 'iron harvest' every year—during plowing, they find shells from World War I. After one hundred years!” he said.

Despite this, Heslop expressed confidence that with proper support, the determination of the Ukrainian people, and the use of modern technologies, the impact of landmines on daily life could be eliminated in a relatively short time.

“I believe that with the right resources, and thanks to the ingenuity of Ukrainians and their willingness to act, we will quickly reduce the impact of the landmine threat. Five to ten years at most. But the full consequences will remain for decades,” the expert concluded.

On April 8, it was reported that since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, there have been 811 incidents involving civilians due to explosive remnants of war. A total of 1,158 people have been affected, including 335 fatalities. Among the killed are 18 children.

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