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From DIY Farm Tech to NATO Standards: Ukrainian Farmers Deliver Homemade Mine-Clearing Vehicles to Army
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Ukrainian farmers have delivered five specialized mine-clearing rollers to the Armed Forces, a grassroots initiative born out of necessity and funded entirely by local communities, the Ukrainian Agri Council announced on September 24.
The idea came after soldiers appealed directly to farmers, many of whom work near the frontline and recently liberated land. For years, they have had to clear their own fields of deadly explosives before planting crops—an experience that proved invaluable in designing the new equipment.
The rollers, built according to the “roller scheme,” trigger anti-tank mines and improvised explosive devices by simulating the pressure of heavy vehicles. Each unit consists of three sections mounted with four wheels apiece, designed to evenly distribute weight and adapt to rough terrain.
According to the farmers, the system passed state trials, received NATO-standard certification, and has already been approved for use by the Ukrainian military. Troops have formally requested 23 of the demining systems.
The first prototype was financed out-of-pocket by the farmers themselves, proving its effectiveness in tests.
Afterward, the Agrarian Council worked with local governments to raise additional funds. By September, 29 communities across Ukraine had allocated subsidies for the project.
Five mine rollers have already been handed over to Ukrainian forces, with three more in preparation. The total cost of the eight machines reached about $300,000.
“Everything we build now is for one purpose—to protect people,” the Agrarian Council stated. “Our farmers have experience working with land scarred by mines, and now that knowledge is saving lives on the battlefield.”
Earlier, reports emerged that in August 2025, demining units of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense cleared 5,973 hectares of liberated territories contaminated with explosive remnants of war caused by Russia’s aggression.
Safety was restored across 5,653 hectares of farmland, 7.6 kilometers of roads, 15 kilometers of power lines, and nearly 67 kilometers of railway tracks.
Specialists detected and destroyed 8,410 explosive devices. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, more than 458,000 such items have been neutralized.
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