Ukraine is littered with landmines on a scale last seen in Vietnam. How can they be removed?
Faced with deadlier threats, demining groups are coming up with new ways of working using drones and AI
TL;DR
- Eastern Ukraine is heavily contaminated with landmines, a problem exacerbated by the widespread use of drones in the conflict.
- New, deadlier landmines, such as the POM-3, are emerging, making certain areas too dangerous to approach.
- Technological advancements, including remote-controlled demining machines (DMR-7), AI-powered surveillance, and advanced detection devices, are being developed and tested to improve speed and safety.
- Humanitarian demining organizations like the Halo Trust are investing heavily in new technologies, sometimes outspending the state's demining budget.
- Bureaucratic hurdles, resistance from government bodies fearing loss of power, and overly cautious health and safety regulations pose significant challenges to demining efforts.
- Despite the difficulties, deminers are hopeful that technological advancements will accelerate the clearance of fertile Ukrainian land for civilian use.