Ukraine is littered with landmines on a scale last seen in Vietnam. How can they be removed?
Ukraine is facing a massive landmine contamination crisis, with demining organizations like the Halo Trust utilizing drones and AI to clear dangerous munitions. The scale of the problem is compared to the Vietnam War, exacerbated by the widespread use of drone-delivered explosives.
Why it matters
The long-term impact of landmines poses a severe threat to civilian safety and agricultural recovery in post-conflict Ukraine.
A Halo Trust deminer working in a field. Faced with deadlier threats, demining groups are coming up with new ways of working using drones and AI
Prefer the Guardian on Google C rouched over on her hands and knees in a field of weeds, Olena Kabanova is digging into the ground. With a shovel and a steady hand, the 58-year-old digs out a neat square around the spot where a mine detector has sensed a suspicious object.
Four years ago, this field in eastern Ukraine was occupied by Russian soldiers. Now back under Ukrainian control, it is littered with landmines. Civilians such as Kabanova are trying to make the land usable again.
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