Humanitarian demining in Zaporizhzhia region currently impossible – SES

Oleksii Bezverkhnii, chief specialist of the humanitarian demining department of the emergency response management of the Main Directorate of the SES in Zaporizhzhia region, stated this in response to a question by Ukrinform's correspondent.

"Unfortunately, due to the security situation, humanitarian demining in the region is impossible. Carrying out humanitarian demining measures within a 20-kilometer zone is strictly prohibited under all international norms. We are involved in detecting and destroying all hazardous objects; we respond to all requests, but we cannot carry out humanitarian demining itself. This is because it requires a large number of personnel who must remain in one area for a long time. The enemy would notice this, and there is a threat of a strike," he said.

The SES reports that pyrotechnic units of the Main Directorate in Zaporizhzhia region work daily. Residents of the region, especially in frontline settlements, constantly find various explosive items – artillery shells, mines, hand grenades, drone-dropped munitions, guided aerial bombs (KABs), missiles, and drones. Many of them have self-destruct mechanisms. In particular, anti-tank mines (PTM-3), designed for remote mining, can detonate when vehicles approach.

"A significant part of agricultural land, fields, and forests is contaminated with explosive hazards. Since the start of the full-scale war, pyrotechnic units have processed 4,273 requests, during which 18,175 explosive items were destroyed. Since the beginning of this year, 629 responses to public reports of explosive hazards have been carried out, during which 787 items were destroyed," Bezverkhnii said. There have also been cases of discovering anti-personnel mines known as "petals." However, according to the specialist, they were used by the enemy as an additional payload for Molniya-type UAVs.

The SES notes that all territory within a 20-kilometer zone from the line of contact may be dangerous. In particular, in Zaporizhzhia, after massive shelling, remnants of drones, unexploded Shahed drones, and missile debris are often found.

As Ukrinform reported, the Cabinet of Ministers has simplified access for agricultural producers to state funding for humanitarian demining of their land.

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