I chose to become a deminer because I was left without work after the war broke out. I wanted to help clear mines and remove explosives and make areas safer more quickly.
Olexiy Levko
Deminer/ Halo Trust
Clearing the way for agriculture and safe land
Mines and explosive remnants of war pose a major threat to people in Ukraine. Through knowledge and new technology, Ukrainians are working to make the land safe again. This saves lives and restores food production.
Mine clearance teams from The HALO Trust are clearing mines in an area near Ivankiv in the Kyiv region.
Almost 140,000 km² of Ukraine is potentially contaminated with mines or explosive remnants from Russia’s warfare. This corresponds to 20 per cent of the country’s land area, or an area larger than Hungary and Denmark combined.
Clearing explosives in Ivankiv
One of the many Ukrainians involved in clearing mines and explosives is Olexiy Levko. He is based in the town of Ivankiv, which was occupied by Russian forces in February and March 2022. Authorities estimate that more than 60,000 m² in the area is contaminated with mines or explosive remnants.
Olexiy is responsible for organising and overseeing the practical implementation of mine clearance in one of the areas in Ivankiv. He says they have found many explosive objects there.
– There was an explosion close to several containers with explosives, and around 2,000 items were scattered across the area. We were able to locate them using the machine you see behind me, says Olexiy, pointing to a remotely operated excavator.
In Ivankiv, the HALO team has so far cleared 13,000 m² – an area equivalent to almost two football fields. They found 18 mines and two hand grenades.
The HALO Trust uses remote-controlled machines when clearing mines and explosives.
Given the vast areas affected, Ukraine has adopted new technology, including remotely operated machinery, drones and artificial intelligence.
The forest area where Olexiy and his team work is used both for logging and for recreation. He says he is proud of his work.
– We clear forests and land of explosives. This allows people who use these areas to farm, garden and cultivate the land safely, and to move freely in nature, for example, to walk in the forest and pick mushrooms.
HALO operates across large parts of Ukraine. To date, they have found and removed 58,100 explosive items – equivalent to 744 lorry loads of ordnance.
Mines and explosives cause severe harm
So far, more than 400 people have been killed and over 1,000 injured by mines and explosive remnants of war in Ukraine.
The village of Mykolaivka was under Russian occupation from February to September 2022. Farmers Serhii and Taisia spent much of that time in the cellar while missiles struck nearby. After the occupation, they decided to remain in the village.
– Where would we go? This is the land I know, says Serhii. He lost his leg after stepping on a mine.
HALO is now working to clear the area and make it safe. As part of this effort, they mark safe zones so that Serhii and other residents know where they can move without risking their lives.
– I won’t get my leg back, but I want others to be safe.
Farmer Serhii lost his leg when he stepped on a mine.
Safe land means safe food
In Ukraine, agriculture is an important source of income for many people. Serhii Anatoliiovych has lived in the village of Bilozirka with his wife since 1991 and makes his living from the land.
The village was occupied by Russian forces in March 2022. There was heavy fighting, and Serhii saw dead and injured people lying in the streets.
– Some of the things you see in war you can never forget, says Serhii.
Serhii Anatoliiovych is a farmer in the village Bilozirka.
He moved to Bilozirka because he wanted to work in agriculture and grow wheat and sunflowers.
– City life didn’t suit me. I like being close to the land and nature. I love plants and flowers and need to see things grow and flourish.
After the full-scale war began, it became impossible for Serhii to harvest his livelihood.
Attack drones regularly circle above the village, and repeated air strikes have scattered dangerous explosive remnants across large areas, including Serhii’s fields.
Norwegian People’s Aid has a strong presence in Ukraine and has helped Serhii clear his fields of explosives. They provide vital training for residents and support in identifying hazardous explosive items, enabling authorities to clear areas safely.
A rocket hit one of Serhii Anatoliiovych’s fields.
When Serhii or other villagers discover explosives, they report them to Norwegian People’s Aid, which then follows up with the authorities. Over the past year, 26 unexploded ordnance items have been removed from the village.
Serhii’s fields are now ready for use again.
Norway contributes to safer local communities
Since 2022, Norway has supported organisations working to clear mines and explosive remnants of war in Ukraine with a total of NOK 718 million.
– Large parts of Ukraine live with explosives and mines as a daily risk. This deprives people of safety, destroys food production and, most importantly, costs lives. By supporting efforts to locate and clear land of mines, we help protect civilians and local communities, says Norad Director Gunn Jorid Roset, who recently visited HALO.
In November, Norad Director Gunn Jorid Roset visited the Halo Trust organisation in Ukraine.
Read more about Norway’s support for Ukraine through the Nansen Programme: The Nansen Programme for Ukraine | Norad.no