70 thousand hectares of agricultural land in Ukraine have already been demined

As reported by the State Service for Emergency Situations, a total of 174,000 square kilometers of Ukraine are contaminated with remnants of Russian mines and unexploded shells. Currently, where possible, about two thousand Ukrainian and foreign explosive technicians are demining these territories.

According to the State Emergency Service, sappers have already cleared 15,000 kilometers of roads, railway tracks, and power lines from the remnants of Russian explosive "garbage", demined more than 10,000 homes and 70,000 hectares of agricultural land.

"By the end of 2023, we plan to clear over one and a half thousand square kilometers of agricultural land. This, on the one hand, will help to avoid the deepening of the food crisis in the world, and on the other hand, it will contribute to the stabilization of our economy," said First Vice Prime Minister - Minister of Economy Yulia Svyridenko on this occasion.

According to her, Ukraine currently has only 12 demining machines, and needs more than 80. The situation is also similar with specialists, because they are needed three times more than there are.

In turn, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized that mine danger remains one of the main challenges for Ukrainian farmers. He called demining one of the main priorities for the Cabinet this year.

Foreign partners are already providing assistance to Ukraine. In particular, the Netherlands will provide assistance with humanitarian demining. This was stated by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands during negotiations with the Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitalization Denys Bashlyk.

"The Netherlands has already provided Ukraine with €20 million for demining. And they plan to help Ukrainian farmers in the future. In particular, support non-technical land survey projects and help small farmers clear fields," the Ministry of Agrarian Policy said in a statement.

It also became known that Austria will finance equipment for demining Ukrainian lands worth 2 million euros (about 2.15 million US dollars). Austrian mass media emphasize that Austrian specialists, including military personnel, will not go to Ukraine, and humanitarian support, in particular, regarding demining, does not contradict the neutrality of Austria's position.