Ukraine launches humanitarian demining centre

A humanitarian demining centre will be set up in Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said.

According to him, the centre will act as an analytical centre and summarize information on the needs of demining in certain de-occupied territories.

At today's meeting with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Economy and the State Emergency Situations Ministry discussed issues of humanitarian demining in Ukraine and responsibilities of the future institution. The Ukrainian Centre for Humanitarian Demining will improve coordination between all actors of mine clearance. And also will attract all possible resources to conduct demining, - said the Head of Government.

At the same time, he noted that demining of the liberated territories is a priority issue, as it is impossible to restore the de-occupied regions without complete clearance from Russian mines.

According to international experts, about 40% of our country's territory is contaminated with mines. Ukraine has anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, mines-traps, cluster munitions and unexploded ordnance.

From 24 February 2022 to 10 January 2023, at least 611 people in Ukraine have been affected by mines. And from 2014 to 2020, 1,190 such incidents have been recorded.