Ukraine’s PM Highlights the Need for Sappers and Demining Machines to Address Mine Contamination

Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Denys Shmyhal, reported on the state of Ukraine’s mine contamination, energy infrastructure, and weapons production during a press conference on the results of the government's work on Tuesday, September 10. 

The main takeaways of Shmyhal’s report during the conference:

• Ukraine’s weapons production increased three times in 2023, and in 8 months of this year, it was possible to increase production by another 2 times.

• Ukraine needs about 10,000 sappers to clear land contaminated by Russian mines in 5 years. According to the PM, there are currently 53 operators of mine countermeasures and about 3,000 sappers in Ukraine.

  Shmyhal added that Ukraine has demining machines, but at least 200 of them are needed to speed up the pace of demining and save the lives of sappers.

• It is currently impossible to predict how many hours Ukrainians will be forced to stay without electricity in winter and whether there will be outages at all.

  Shmyhal stated that Ukrenergo (national Ukrainian power company) facilities are protected by 85%. The protective measures include anti-aircraft defense, electronic warfare equipment, the construction of sand gabions, and reinforced concrete shelters. Gas-producing and oil-refining enterprises are also equipped with first- and second-level protection, Shmyhal noted.

• The purpose of creating the Ministry of Return of Ukrainians is to pay special attention to all 7.5 million Ukrainians who are currently abroad and encourage them to return home. There is no final name for the ministry yet, it will be chosen soon, Shmyhal noted.

• More than 80% of Ukrainian schools and 100% of hospitals have generators. The number of cogeneration plants available at heat supply enterprises in Ukraine today is 169, of which 83 have been put into operation. International partners have confirmed the supply of another 291 units and 101 block modular boiler houses, he added. According to Shmyhal, the total need for cogeneration units is 569 units.

*Cogeneration is a process of simultaneous production of electrical and thermal energy from fuel energy. Compared to standard power plants, cogeneration plants are considered more efficient.