Ukraine’s Farmers Risk Their Lives Clearing The World’s Largest Minefield With Drones And Robots
The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has left behind a deadly legacy: millions of land mines, shells, and rockets buried in the soil of one of the world’s largest breadbaskets. These explosives pose a grave threat to the farmers who depend on the land for their livelihoods, as well as to the food security of the region and beyond.
According to the Ukrainian military, about a third of the country is contaminated by unexploded munitions, making it the largest minefield in the world. Many of these devices are anti-tank mines, designed to destroy armored vehicles, but capable of killing or maiming anyone who steps on them. Some farmers have already lost their lives or limbs while working in their fields.
The process of clearing the land of explosives is slow and costly, requiring trained experts and specialized equipment. The Ukrainian government and international organizations, such as the United Nations and the HALO Trust, are working to demine the affected areas, but they face many challenges, such as lack of funding, access, and security.
However, some farmers are not willing to wait for the official clearance operations. They are taking matters into their own hands, using improvised methods to detect and remove the explosives from their fields. Some use metal detectors, sticks, and shovels to dig up the mines by hand, risking their lives with every move. Others employ drones and robots to scan the land and mark the locations of the devices, or even to detonate them remotely.
These farmers are driven by a desperate need to sow their crops and restore their businesses, which have been devastated by the war. Ukraine is one of the world’s largest exporters of grain, and agriculture is a vital sector of its economy. The loss of arable land due to the contamination has contributed to the rise of food prices and the decline of rural incomes.
The farmers who are clearing their land of explosives are also motivated by a sense of patriotism and defiance. They see their land as part of their identity and heritage, and they refuse to let the Russian invaders take it away from them. They hope that by reclaiming their fields, they can also help their country regain its sovereignty and stability.
The best way to help the farmers and the country is to support the professional and systematic clearance of the land, and to pressure the Russian government to stop its aggression and respect the international humanitarian law. The farmers deserve to work in their fields without fear, and the world deserves to enjoy the fruits of their labor without guilt.
