Ukraine Farmers: Mine Clearing Risks | War News
- Across war-torn Ukraine, farmers are taking on a perilous role: clearing their own land of mines.
- Larisa Sysenko and her husband, Viktor, began demining their farm in Kamyanka using rakes after Russian forces withdrew.
- Igor Kniazev, a farmer near Larisa's farm, stated, "Absolutely everyone demines by themselves." this DIY approach highlights the desperation and resilience of Ukrainian farmers.
Ukrainian Farmers’ Risky Role: demining Fields Amid War
Across war-torn Ukraine, farmers are taking on a perilous role: clearing their own land of mines. The urgency to resume planting on Ukraine’s fertile “chernozem” soil, known for its intense blackness and fertility, is driving this hazardous trend.
Larisa Sysenko and her husband, Viktor, began demining their farm in Kamyanka using rakes after Russian forces withdrew. Similarly, near Kharkiv, Mykola Pereverzev started clearing fields with his farm machinery. “My tractor was blown up three times,” Pereverzev said. “We had to get a new one… But we ended up clearing 200 hectares of minefields in two months.”
Igor Kniazev, a farmer near Larisa’s farm, stated, “Absolutely everyone demines by themselves.” this DIY approach highlights the desperation and resilience of Ukrainian farmers.
Ukraine’s soil is now among the most heavily mined globally, according to experts. Years of intense artillery barrages have left millions of tons of unexploded ordnance scattered across the landscape. Estimates suggest that one in 10 shells fail to detonate, posing a long-term threat.
Despite the dangers, farmers are modifying tractors for clearance and planting wheat and sunflowers. The Sysenkos, among the first to return to Kamyanka after its recapture, initially cleared gallows erected by Russian soldiers before tackling the mines. “There were many mines, and our guys in the Ukrainian army couldn’t prioritize us. So we slowly demined ourselves with rakes,” Larisa said.
Viktor, who served in Soviet artillery, identified the Russian shells as 152mm howitzer rounds. He noted with a smile that his experience helped.
Swiss FSD Foundation deminers later discovered 54 mines in the Sysenkos’ field and instructed them to evacuate during the professional demining process.”Their protocols prohibited us from staying. So we complied,” Larisa said. “The demining machine traversed the area repeatedly, triggering numerous explosions.”
While Kamyanka remains largely deserted, about 40 residents have returned, a fraction of its pre-war population of 1,200. The fear of mines persists,but the need to cultivate the land is paramount.
What’s next
Drones and international funding are playing an increasing role in accelerating land clearance efforts, complementing the farmers’ own initiatives. this combination of technology and local action offers a path toward reclaiming Ukraine’s vital agricultural lands.