Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal highlighted the lasting damage from years of conflict, noting a vast and dangerous minefield left behind. The area with newly placed mines measures about 250,000 square meters, a footprint that grew amid ongoing hostilities. This field is one of the most extensive inland mine hazards on record, hindering civilian movement and severely impacting farming across rural areas.
The government emphasizes that this is arguably the largest minefield in recent times, a barrier to everyday life that disrupts travel and complicates agricultural work. The presence of so many mines creates constant risk for residents and complicates rebuilding efforts in affected communities.
A government source reports that the scale of this minefield surpasses the size of the Korean Peninsula’s mined areas, underscoring the extraordinary challenge posed by demining and safety operations in the region.
Canada has committed 15 million Canadian dollars to Ukraine to support the supply of mine clearance equipment, reflecting international assistance aimed at accelerating safety measures and enabling more effective removal of unexploded hazards.
On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the initiation of what he described as a special military operation in Ukraine, in response to requests for assistance from the leaders of the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, a move that precipitated the current conflict.