Russia has contaminated 128,000 sq km of land and 14,000 sq km of water in Ukraine with explosives: the risks negatively affect the lives of over 6 million Ukrainians
As a result of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, more than 128,000 km² of land and 14,000 km² of water were contaminated with explosives. Such data leads The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, emphasizing the significant impact of the Russian aggression on the safety of the population, agriculture, industry and general socio-economic development in the affected regions.
During the forum “Financial principles in humanitarian demining and principles of compensation in the agricultural sector” in Kyiv, the head of the Main Department of Mine Action, Civil Defense and Environmental Security, Colonel Ruslan Beregulya, outlined the scope of the problem. According to him, pollution by explosive objects endangers the lives of more than 6 million Ukrainians.
Beregulya also spoke in detail about the next steps that are planned to increase the effectiveness of humanitarian demining measures in Ukraine. He emphasized that by joint efforts, meter by meter, Ukraine will free its land from explosive objects. In addition, an important aspect is international support, which will create a safe environment for the return of temporarily displaced persons and contribute to the economic recovery of the affected regions.
In addition to the explosives threat, Russia has committed more than 4,700 environmental crimes in Ukraine, causing $64 billion in damage. These crimes caused significant pollution of soil, water resources and air, and also caused irreparable damage to the nature reserve fund of Ukraine.
International partners continue to provide assistance in dealing with these consequences, and their support is essential to further progress in humanitarian demining and Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.
