To put that into perspective, that region is larger than the UK.
According to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, more than 300,000 square kilometers (116,000 square miles) of Ukraine’s territory may be contaminated with unexploded ordnance as a result of the civil war.
In Ukraine, however, there are only 300 qualified technicians available to assist in their removal, and the necessary equipment is in short supply.
During my time in Kyiv, I joined the EOD (bomb disposal) team of the National Police. They work every day to clear mines, booby traps, and unexploded ordnance from former Russian-occupied territory.
We witnessed them digging with their bare hands.
We observed them walking nonchalantly, but with a fair amount of courage, through bushes and woods using only tree branches as prodding devices, and on their hands and knees searching Russian trenches for what they’d left behind.
A significant number of them were not even wearing body armor, helmets, or the proper protection.
CJ Darton, a former British soldier, works with them.
He served seven years in the British Army and has specialized in EOD training. He has been assisting the National Police of Ukraine for months.
Within five minutes of searching through the forest on the morning of our excursion, he discovered a booster from an artillery shell.
“Every munition and mine we remove from the ground saves a life,” he said.
Even in and around Kyiv, the work is extensive, but their equipment is shockingly primitive.
Mr. Darton said: “The issue is that we lack the necessary equipment for our job.
“You’ve probably seen some of the men; they lack body armor, helmets, and in some cases, boots. There are only 300 of us across the country, and there is too much to manage.
In the aftermath of the Russian occupation, he went on to explain what causes the greatest number of innocent deaths.
“One of the leading causes of death is not the stepping on of mines. Unexploded munitions are strewn about the area.”
“As civilians return to their homes, they discover items in their gardens and residences. These are Russian-deployed weapons that may or may not have detonated upon impact with the ground.
“They are effectively land mines if they do not explode, as they can be triggered by anything.
“Occasionally, even a temperature change could be enough to set them off.
“It’s dangerous for us, let alone civilians who don’t know what they are, and we’ve even discovered tank shells and munitions in children’s playgrounds.”
Sixty technicians are responsible for working in the region surrounding Kyiv where the footprints of the Russian army remain.
We observed Russian rucksacks abandoned in the undergrowth, Russian boots strewn across fields, and discarded empty insulin needles.
Something was unsettling about seeing the belongings of Russian soldiers strewn about the ground.
Almost perceivable was their presence. Despite the inherent dangers, this task must be completed so that normalcy can be restored.
The leader of the task force is burdened by this responsibility.
Colonel of the Ukrainian National Police, Volodymyr Khomenko, stated: “Whether farming can continue, people can return to work, hospitals and schools can reopen, and normal life can resume depends on us.
“My entire team and I are at risk, but we are aware of this danger. Fear is controllable. There is no reason to be afraid if you are competent.”
What they have already recovered in this region is astounding. They led us to a vast warehouse where much of the merchandise was stored. Seeing it laid out in front of me felt almost unreal.
Andrii Henryk, an EOD technician, stated, “Our unit has discovered approximately 85,000 unexploded devices in playgrounds, fields, streets, and homes.”
Cluster bombs, which were banned internationally four years ago, are included in their haul. I witnessed it with my own eyes. I stood alongside them.
Then, they took us to see what they do with the objects they discover but kept us at a safe distance. At the end of this particular day, they gathered a large number of these weapons, buried them deep within a sand-filled crater, and detonated them.
The noise was extremely loud. When one of these explosions occurs, the shockwaves travel directly through the body, so the possibility that a young child could stumble upon something similar is terrifying but very real.
When the war is over, these types of weapons remain. They are terror weapons, and they are being abandoned to kill and maim civilians.
Despite the dangers and risks, this team of Ukrainian police feels a tremendous sense of satisfaction when they detonate these devices. The destruction of these weapons renders them harmless.
