De-Mining Ukraine

"In the current context, [de-mining] is probably the job that is most in demand in Ukraine."

"You have to be well prepared psychologically and in good shape to do this work. You have to be very responsible."

Danylo Kudrlavtsev, HALO team leader

"Minefields like this, they really affect the lives of civilians who are doing agricultural work, who are just going to another village, or who are trying to go foraging, or who are trying to just go for a walk with their kids."

"Threats like this affect the life of every Ukrainian."

Olesia Fesenko, HALO Trust de-mining group 

Photo: HALO Trust

 

Metre by metre HALO Trust workers have been trained to carefully clear mines in Peremoha, Chernihiv and other areas the Russian invasion ravaged. These are explosive devices meant for defense, and laid down by the tens of thousands by armies at war. Once they've served their defensive purpose they remain where they were laid down, lethal weapons, ready to do what they were designed for; blow up vehicles or people or both.

Each of the stakes that are put down on discovery of the location of a mine, marks a spot where de-mining teams have discovered an anti-tank mine. The village of Peremoha is located roughly an hour by car  travelling east of downtown Kyiv. This was as far as Russian forces reached before they retreated in March, leaving fields of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines behind, prepared to do the same where they were being re-deployed, in east and south-east Ukraine.

 

Workers with the HALO Trust organization use a detector as they perform demining operations in the village of Peremoha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrice Bergeron

 

The HALO Trust, a non-governmental organization, has trained locals of the area to operate by hand and on foot to aid in the clearing of these mines. There are over 600 local people comprising 98 percent of the HALO Trust staff. Methods for identifying minefields with the use of open-source information and testimonials from citizens represents the groundwork of the organization, in a country where huge numbers of minefields challenge the skills of dedicated de-miners.

Kharkiv in particular, recently liberated by the Ukrainian military's successful counteroffensive is surrounded by huge minefields. Everywhere that battles raged, or where fighting continues, there are mines. That has led to frequent accidents, at times involving children intrigued by the metal devices. Even in the face of HALO raising awareness of the dangers among the public through organized educational events, some 530 in number. HALO teams are able to clear a few hundred square metres in a day.

The initial check by the de-miners is performed to detect the presence of small, hidden anti-personnel mines, readily triggered by a trip wire. Once they are cleared, the job of 'decontamination' to rid fields of anti-tank mines commences. A team makes use of a device resembling a large rectangular frame with a cable connected to a metal detector. The frame is moved by two people over the ground of a precise area. Should the alarm sound, the spot is investigated with use of another, more precise detector.

Once an anti-tank mine is detected, it must be carefully unearthed. That done, the army of other authorities take over the job of detonating or disarming the mine. On occasion a citizen may discover a mine on their property, and call  Ukrainian emergency services. The HALO Trust performs an invaluable service in aiding the Ukrainian state apparatus stretched thin by the depth and extent of the need to respond in desperate times.

Conflict mapping around Kharkiv    HALO Trust