Ukraine Seeks Global Support to Clear Landmines, as 25% of Its Territory Remains Contaminated

Ukraine requires more assistance in clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance, which now cover up to a quarter of the country, making it the most heavily mined nation in the world. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal made this appeal during a meeting in Switzerland on October 17.

"The scale of this challenge is truly massive," Shmyhal said. "I call on the entire civilized world to increase support for Ukraine in the field of demining."

He stated that Ukraine’s National Mine Strategy aims to clear the entire country by 2033, but significant support is needed—particularly in training 10,000 deminers and developing machines capable of clearing terrain up to 100 times faster than manual efforts.

Switzerland and Ukraine are jointly hosting the Ukraine Mine Action Conference 2024 (UMAC2024) in Lausanne, Switzerland. The conference aims to highlight the critical importance of mine clearance as a central component of social and economic recovery.

Jaco Cilliers, the United Nations Development Programme’s representative in Ukraine, told Reuters he had witnessed bombs concealed inside teddy bears and candy boxes.

As a result of Russia’s heavy mining, Ukraine, once the breadbasket of Europe, is unable to fully restore its agricultural production. Mines and unexploded ordnance present a serious threat to farmers in the fields and children at play, leading to frequent tragic accidents.

In 2023, the Federal Council approved a 100 million franc ($115.5 million) package over four years specifically for demining efforts in Ukraine. Swiss experts are currently active in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions, clearing contaminated land and supporting smallholder farmers and mine victims.

The World Bank previously estimated that Ukraine will need $35 billion to clear its entire territory of mines and unexploded ordnance.