As of June 14, 2022, the spokeswoman of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Alona Matveieva announced the results of humanitarian demining by pyrotechnic units during a weekly briefing in Ukrinform.

Among other things, she said that the pyrotechnic units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have already cleared almost 2 million hectares of Ukraine. But the total demining must be carried out on 30 million hectares. In addition, demining requires coastal waters of the Azov and Black Seas; the area of such territories can make up to 19 thousand sq.m. km. Full demining of Ukraine, taking into account international experience, can take from 5 to 10 years.

“Currently, the main efforts of our services are concentrated in Chernihiv and Sumy regions, as well as in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions, where hostilities continue,” said Alona Matveieva.

In total, 274 settlements have already been cleared of ammunition during demining in Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy oblasts.

But the war continues, and the number of unexploded munition, missiles, and mines is growing every day, especially in the area of active hostilities and in the temporarily occupied territory. Almost every day we see reports of regular mine explosions, even in already liberated areas. Therefore, the term of full demining of Ukraine mentioned in the Ministry of Internal Affairs looks too optimistic. We remind that unexploded munition and bombs from the Second World War are still found in Europe and Ukraine.

So take care of yourself, refrain from “going to the countryside” or walking in the woods this year. Especially if you live in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine.