Russia's full-scale invasion might have turned Ukraine into the world's largest minefield.
As of March 2025, Ukraine’s mine-affected land spans an estimated 139,000 sq. kilometers — or 23% of its territory — masking extra floor than all of Greece and posing an immense risk to civilian life and restoration efforts.
Clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance is important to stopping civilian casualties and enabling the secure use of land and infrastructure, fostering the nation's restoration and future growth.
Demining in Ukraine is primarily carried out by the State Emergency Service and the Armed Forces, with each worldwide and home non-governmental organizations contributing to the trouble.
The world's largest demining non-governmental group, the HALO Belief, has operated in Ukraine since 2015 and scaled up its efforts after the full-scale invasion started.
The HALO Belief has cleared practically 7.9 million sq. meters of land and positioned over 41,000 items of unexploded ordnance since Feb. 24, 2022.
The group has grown from a small group of 400 in Kramatorsk, a front-line metropolis in Donetsk Oblast, to a workforce of 1,500 individuals working in eight areas throughout Ukraine.
The Kyiv Unbiased spoke with James Cowan, the CEO of HALO Belief, concerning the group's ongoing effort to rid Ukraine of landmines, his evaluation of how lengthy it would take, and what new expertise might revolutionize the method.
Editor's observe: This interview has been edited and condensed for readability.
The Kyiv Unbiased: How would you describe the dimensions of landmine contamination in Ukraine at the moment, and the way does it evaluate to different battle zones you've labored in?
James Cowan: The HALO Belief has existed since 1988. We’re the world's largest NGO that clears landmines, so we find out about different areas of the world.
That is the most important landmine problem since World Conflict II.
Except it's executed shortly, it's going to take a whole lot of years.
James Cowan within the park after the interview in Kyiv, Ukraine on Could 15, 2025.(Elena Kalinichenko/The Kyiv Unbiased)
The closest instance is the minefield between North and South Korea — it's 178 kilometers lengthy. Ukraine's entrance line is 1,000 kilometers lengthy, and that isn’t the one contamination.
There are landmines properly inside free Ukraine and landmines properly inside Russian-controlled components of Ukraine.
The Kyiv Unbiased: Are you able to describe how your group operates in Ukraine — which areas you're lively in, and what the method appears like from detection to elimination when a mine or unexploded ordnance is discovered?
James Cowan: There are three items: one within the north, one within the northeast, and one within the south. We need to increase additional, and when it’s attainable, we might be joyful to assist Ukraine clear much more components of the nation.
We now have survey groups that affirm the contamination and are additionally attempting to shrink the realm to absolutely the minimal. We then herald our groups to conduct the clearance.
That is an space the place there could possibly be enchancment. We work in nations like Afghanistan, which is mountainous; in nations like Cambodia, which is jungle; and in nations like Angola, which is African bush. In these locations, mechanical strategies aren’t simple to make use of. However in Ukraine, there are open fields — a few of the finest agricultural land on the planet. They’re probably the most appropriate and optimized atmosphere for mechanical clearance.
We now have mechanical diggers, however we're not allowed to deploy them as a result of authorization could be very gradual. We might ask the Ukrainian authorities to hurry that up as a result of presently, it is extremely bureaucratic and takes too lengthy. We’d like to have the ability to use all of the belongings obtainable.
Ukraine doesn’t need to be like Afghanistan, the place HALO has labored since 1988 and continues to be working.
The Kyiv Unbiased: Why is it so troublesome to hurry up the method?
James Cowan: Each nation has its personal forms. Generally, authorities officers aren't as entrepreneurial as these within the non-public sector. However it could be good to see extra pace. This isn’t a acutely aware determination however extra a bureaucratic inertia.
However Ukraine must act as a result of its land is roofed in landmines. With out motion, Ukraine can't export its grain, open its roads, or convey its inhabitants again. Except it's executed shortly, it's going to take a whole lot of years.
The Kyiv Unbiased: Given the continued ceasefire negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, do you suppose demining also needs to be a part of the talks?
James Cowan: If a ceasefire occurs, that’s the inflection level. It’s the level at which everybody's efforts transfer from a battle to a defensive posture, during which, in fact, Ukraine's military will proceed to guard the sovereignty of their nation. Nonetheless, the civilian effort will transfer towards reconstruction and away from the preventing.
At that second, Ukraine's precedence will likely be to restart its economic system, get all that land that hasn't been farmed for 3 or 4 years again into use, and permit communities to return to their properties. And it's not nearly large-scale farming — it's additionally about native, small-scale agriculture. Some individuals haven't been capable of develop greens, elevate goats or sheep, or use their cows and donkeys. They want entry to their land once more.
It's additionally about reopening roads, colleges, retailers, and factories. All these items have to be cleared (from mines), and the entire economic system must be helped to stand up and going.
There’s plenty of emphasis on the mineral deal, however you’ll be able to't mine for minerals with out demining for landmines.
The Kyiv Unbiased: If the battle had been to finish tomorrow, wouldn’t it be reasonable to completely clear all mines in Ukraine inside the subsequent 10 years?
James Cowan: If the battle had been to cease tomorrow alongside the present entrance line, it wouldn't be attainable to clear landmines on the Russian-occupied aspect, regardless of it being sovereign Ukrainian territory, until Russia permits it.
Combining synthetic intelligence with imagery is a key growth.
Relating to territory underneath Ukrainian management, whether or not all landmines could be cleared inside 10 years stays open — however I consider it's attainable. If Ukraine applies the identical stage of innovation and power to mechanizing demining because it has to advancing drone expertise, then sure, I believe it's achievable. That mentioned, it's nonetheless too early to make certain.
The Kyiv Unbiased: How do you assess Ukraine's Nationwide Mine Motion Technique (authorised in June 2024)? In your view, how reasonable and efficient is it given the present scale of contamination? Has HALO Belief been concerned in shaping or advising on the technique?
James Cowan: I've labored alongside Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko. The technique she's constructed is an efficient one.
However all methods must evolve; they're not simply paperwork on a dusty shelf, and this one will. I'd significantly prefer to see the adoption of mechanical clearance.
The Kyiv Unbiased: What rising applied sciences do you see as having the best potential to remodel demining efforts in Ukraine?
James Cowan: Combining synthetic intelligence with imagery is a key growth. When it comes to detection, there are a number of thrilling applied sciences, akin to artificial aperture radar, ground-penetrating radar, and magnetic resonance — particularly the magnetic resonance strategies developed in Australia for detecting uncommon earth components like gold, which may also be utilized to discovering landmines.
There are additionally cutting-edge nuclear business applied sciences, just like the neutron-associated particle imaging (NAPI), which could possibly be game-changing. The issue is that these applied sciences are excellent at discovering mines, but additionally discover mines that aren't there. This implies they produce false alarms, which slows the method. So, the expertise must turn into higher at solely detecting actual landmines, not pretend ones.
The Kyiv Unbiased: Because the CEO of a number one humanitarian group, you selected to not publicly condemn the U.S. determination to supply Ukraine with anti-personnel mines in 2024. May you clarify why? Has your place on this modified since then?
James Cowan: Ukraine's basic proper to self-defense is one thing everybody ought to respect. Your nation is preventing for its very existence. Who am I to query your proper to exist? I wasn't keen to sentence you for that.
Sure, my group's mission is to clear landmines, however I'm not right here to guage who is correct or unsuitable. My position is solely to clear the landmines.
Notice from the writer:
Hello! Daria Shulzhenko right here. I wrote this piece for you. For the reason that first day of Russia's all-out battle, I’ve been working virtually continuous to inform the tales of these affected by Russia’s brutal aggression. By telling all these painful tales, we’re serving to to maintain the world knowledgeable concerning the actuality of Russia’s battle in opposition to Ukraine. By becoming the Kyiv Independent's member, you’ll be able to assist us proceed telling the world the reality about this battle.
The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima