UN Expert: Innovation Essential to Counter Modern Landmine Threats

Deminers are currently engaged in a technological race to counter increasingly sophisticated landmine designs that threaten civilians and hinder reconstruction in conflict zones. According to a report from UN News on April 3, 2026, experts warn that deminers must innovate at the same pace as military technology to avoid being left behind.

In the Ukraine conflict, landmine development has entered a new era. 3D printers are being used to produce basic models of landmines near the battlefield, which are then assembled, filled with explosives, and deployed using drones. The majority of mines currently deployed in Ukraine are laid remotely through the use of drones, helicopters, rockets, or artillery.

Paul Heslop, the Head of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Ukraine, stated that the deployment of high-tech mines has made detection a much more complicated and dangerous task. These advanced devices are equipped with sensors capable of detecting approaching vehicles or individuals on foot to trigger detonation.

Some of these mines possess magnetic influence capabilities, allowing them to explode when they are exposed to the magnetic field of a detector. Heslop noted that the piece of technology you’re using to find the mine may actually activate the mine.

The Shift to Non-Metallic Materials

The effectiveness of traditional mine detection has been undermined by a shift in the materials used by military engineers. While steel and iron mines were easily identified by metal detectors, modern mines increasingly utilize high-density plastics, composites, and 3D-printed casings.

These non-metallic or low-metal mines are designed to avoid detection by traditional sensors, often containing only a small firing pin. This shift has left deminers in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe struggling to locate devices that are nearly indistinguishable from surrounding rocks and soil.

This gap in detection capability creates what are described as infrastructure traps. In locations such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the inability to clear specific corridors of land prevents the restoration of water systems, the laying of power lines, and the rebuilding of bridges.

Global Impact and Humanitarian Risks

The global scale of the threat is extensive. Secretary-General António Guterres stated on April 11, 2025, that more than 100 million people worldwide are at risk from improvised explosive devices (IEDs), explosive remnants of war, and landmines. These hazards persist in areas including Syria, Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

On average, one person is killed or injured by an explosive device every hour, with children frequently among the victims. In Somalia, IEDs remain a significant threat; in 2024, 597 such devices resulted in over 1,400 casualties.

The UN has highlighted the role of mine action in supporting survivors and rebuilding communities under the 2025 theme Safe Futures Start Here. UNMAS is currently advocating for increased investment in quick-impact and micro-projects designed to meet the urgent needs of people with physical disabilities affected by conflict.

These initiatives align with the Pact for the Future adopted at the 2024 Summit of the Future, specifically Action 14 regarding civilian protection and Action 29 concerning the scaling of innovation and technology capacities in developing countries.

To combat the evolving threat, mine action groups are focusing on prevention and identifying weaknesses in how mines are deployed. For example, because an increasing number of mines are deployed remotely, many fail to penetrate the surface of the ground, providing a potential point of exploitation for demining teams.

The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is observed annually on April 4.