“Ukraine cannot stop, both on the battlefield and in the issue of demining,” — Igor Klymenko
This was emphasized by the Minister of Internal Affairs during a speech at the Demine Ukraine Forum.
Demine Ukraine Forum is an event dedicated to humanitarian demining of the territory of Ukraine, in particular agricultural land and infrastructure facilities.
Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Klymenko noted that currently the Government of Ukraine is making a lot of efforts for the speedy demining of the de-occupied territories of Ukraine, because the return of people to normal life depends on it.
In particular, the Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that 210 pyrotechnic calculations work daily in Ukraine. This is more than 1100 people, about 350 units of equipment. The largest number of forces involved in Kherson region, Kharkiv region, Mykolaiv region and Donetsk region.
“We clearly know where and how many calculations work today. Which areas have already been checked and how many are planned. This visualization is necessary to plan the work and understand the scale primarily for us. Currently, our main goal is to demine the territory of our state as much as possible in 10 years. To this end, we are considering all ideas and inviting international partners at the same time. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine already has a strategy for the systematic demining of our country,” said Igor Klymenko.
The Minister of Internal Affairs said that the demining of Ukraine depends primarily on hostilities, because the enemy is repeatedly shelling most of the de-occupied territories. However, specialized equipment, in particular provided by international partners, helps to speed up this process.
“Currently, we have more than 430 pyrotechnic machines of various types, robotic systems, drones and catamarans for underwater mining. Thanks to the support of international partners, 15 mechanized mining machines operate in Ukraine. With their help, about 250 hectares of territory have been cleared. So, for example, a demining machine can pass from a hectare per day, but a sapper passes through this area in 3-4 days,” said Igor Klymenko.
The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs also said that at the moment there are areas that need special attention. For example, the demining of agricultural land. Thus, the need for primary demining is more than 44 thousand hectares.
In addition, the forum was attended by Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmyhal, First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Matsuda Kuninori and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Ukraine Bridt Brink.
Ukraine's foreign partners once again stressed the importance of forming an international coalition on the demining of Ukraine. They called on other countries of the world to unite to help Ukraine, as this is a prerequisite for returning people to the de-occupied territories and restoring the economy.
“Demining is a big challenge for Ukraine, but it is a prerequisite for the return of people. The prospects for Ukraine's reconstruction and the formation of a sustainable economy depend on this. We understand that solving complex problems requires effective planning, dedication and of course the support of partners. Ukraine's efforts are extraordinary on the issue of demining. And I suggest that all international partners find a way for mining to help develop the Ukrainian economy, create new businesses and give Ukraine access to the latest technologies. In turn, Japan will continue to support Ukraine and will stand shoulder to shoulder until the last destroyed mine in Ukraine,” said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Matsuda Kuninori.
“More than 30% of Ukraine's territories are contaminated with mines — this is a crisis of a huge scale, because it is an obstacle to the economic development of the de-occupied territories of Ukraine. If this issue is not resolved, the country's economy will slow down. Therefore, it is extremely important to concentrate our efforts to help Ukraine in this area. Our goal is to help Ukrainians return safely to their own territories. We reaffirm our unwavering support for your country. We stand with you now, and we will stand in times of rebuilding your country,” said US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine Bridget Brink.
It should be noted that Demine Ukraine is a state program for cleaning the territory of Ukraine from explosive objects and mine pollution left as a result of Russian aggression.
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
