On Thursday (5 June), the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) warned that Ukraine is now the most heavily mined country since World War II, with over 139,000 square kilometres of land potentially contaminated by mines and unexploded ordnance.
Speaking in New York on Thursday, UNMAS advisor Paul Heslop said that this contamination endangers lives and livelihoods, particularly in farming areas. Over six million people live near these dangerous zones, and more than 800 people have been killed or injured by landmines since 2022.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, landmines have blocked access to farmland and delayed the return of displaced communities. Although 35,000 square kilometres have been declared safe, Mr Heslop stressed that real and perceived risks still prevent people from returning.
UNMAS and Ukrainian authorities are using new technologies, including satellites and AI, to speed up the process of clearing landmines. However, Heslop warned that more funding and coordination are needed. “We know how to do it,” he said, “but we need the resources.”
