{"id":4982,"date":"2024-04-15T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-15T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawai.li\/fsd\/?p=4982"},"modified":"2026-04-29T14:55:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T12:55:27","slug":"mechanical-mine-clearance-in-ukraines-liberated-areas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fsd.ch\/en\/mechanical-mine-clearance-in-ukraines-liberated-areas\/","title":{"rendered":"“My father and my husband built our house”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kamianka, a rustic settlement in Ukraine\u2019s east, experienced brutal fighting during the summer of 2022. Following months of fierce combat, Ukrainian troops finally retook Kamianka as part of their wider counter-offensive that liberated large parts of Kharkiv Oblast from Russian invaders in September 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, according to Volodymyr K., a resident of Kamianka, \u201cmost of the houses in the village are destroyed and only their foundations and rubble remain. Nevertheless,\u201d he adds, \u201cpeople are still dream of returning to their homes and live in peace and safety.\u201d Larisa S., another resident of Kamianka, concurs: \u201cThis is our motherland. My father and my husband built our house. Even if only the foundations of our house were left, we would start rebuilding our home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the destruction, however, the months of intense combat had left Kamianka and its surrounding lands contaminated with explosive hazards. After farming for 23 years, Volodymyr found himself without the means of support, as his fields were no longer safe to work. Similarly, Larisa made the shocking discovery that \u201chere in Kamianka everything was sown with them. The territory of the village was covered with Russian [anti-personnel] mines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volodymyr recounts, \u201caccidents happen on a regular basis.\u201d He knew of farmers who were killed by explosive ordnance only days before FSD interviewed him: \u201cThey decided not to wait for assistance and started clearing their land by themselves. Unfortunately, they had fatal accidents. It is frustrating to realize that people are dying not only on the front line, but when trying to provide a future for their families and their nation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FSD talks with a local citizen to help identify contaminated areas of town.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Larisa recounts that about ten people were injured in Kamianka alone: \u201cWe know the victims, because they are our fellow villagers. One man\u2019s eye was damaged when a [anti-personnel] mine exploded, others had their feet torn off. About two weeks ago, a 14-year-old boy was injured.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to the danger, FSD has embarked on the urgent task of clearing explosive hazards from the village and its surroundings, supported by funding from the Department of State\u2019s Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement. Since deploying to Kamianka, FSD\u2019s demining assets have swept over 535,000 square meters (132 acres) of land so far, destroyed more than 50 Russian anti-personnel mines, and discovered numerous unexploded 152 mm projectiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Volodymyr learned about the clearance, he showed much enthusiasm: \u201cFor my family, it\u2019s like a sunrise, we now start to see a bright future. As FSD continues clearance, we understand that the process is not fast, that we need to be patient.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larisa shares this optimism: \u201cIn addition to dreaming about the end of the war, we also dream of rebuilding our native village. We used to have a big, beautiful village, and we want it to be restored and for villagers to come back to it. We hope that the experts from FSD will complete the demining process soon so the area around the village will be safe.\u201d Larisa also speaks about the daily satisfaction of seeing yet another part of the village has been demined. \u201cIt inspires and gives you hope. With every square meter cleared we can see the village returning to peaceful life.\u201d

This article by Markus Schindler (FSD) was originally published in the US State Department journal. \u201cTo Walk the Earth in Safety\u201d.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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