The Director of the United Nations Mine Action Service in Ukraine, Paul Heslop, announced that the extent of mines in Ukraine is far more dangerous than those in Afghanistan and Somalia.
Heslop stated in an interview with the British newspaper “The Times”: “I have worked for 30 years in the field of mine clearance around the world, from Afghanistan to Somalia, but it seems to me that all of that was just practice” compared to the situation in Ukraine.
As Heslop pointed out, the number of mines and unexploded ordnance in Ukraine exceeds anything Europe has faced since World War II.
Earlier, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, in an interview with “Financial Times”, said that the Ukrainian army has to clear vast minefields with bare hands.
It should be noted that Western countries, led by the United States, have supplied Ukraine, especially since the beginning of Russia’s special military operation, with large quantities of various types of weapons.
Russia has warned Western countries and NATO that sending weapons to Kyiv poses the risk of the conflict spiraling out of control, as it prolongs the duration of the conflict and exposes Ukraine to further destruction.
The issue of landmines is not new to conflict zones, but the scale in Ukraine is unprecedented in recent European history. The presence of a vast number of mines and unexploded ordnance poses a significant challenge to both military operations and civilian safety. These explosive remnants of war not only threaten lives but also hinder humanitarian aid, reconstruction efforts, and the return of displaced people to their homes. As the conflict continues, the focus on mine clearance and prevention is essential to ensure the safety of both military personnel and civilians
