Landmines And Cluster Bombs: The UXO Contaminating Ukraine

Even before the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine was one of the most mine-affected countries in the world. The ongoing conflict has only intensified the problem, leaving vast areas contaminated with landmines, cluster munitions, and other unexploded ordnance (UXO). These hidden hazards pose a deadly threat to civilians and create significant barriers to recovery and reconstruction.

Despite the dangerous conditions, Ukrainian and international agencies are working tirelessly to clear ordnance. Even now, as the fighting continues, planning is underway for the monumental task of making the land safe for future generations.

The legacy of UXO in Ukraine

Ukraine has a long history of UXO contamination, dating back to World War Two. Decades later, the scars of conflict remain buried beneath the soil, with munitions still being unearthed during construction and farming activities. However, the situation deteriorated further in 2014 when Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the subsequent conflict in Donbas introduced a new wave of explosive threats.

Following the outbreak of hostilities, both Ukrainian and Russian-backed separatist forces deployed large quantities of landmines, despite Ukraine having ratified the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. Soviet-era stockpiled mines, alongside improvised explosive devices (IEDs), were scattered across battlefields, rural areas, and residential zones.

One of the most heavily contaminated regions is the ‘contact line’ – the roughly 500km stretch dividing government and separatist-held areas in Eastern Ukraine. This heavily mined zone posed a constant danger to civilians, particularly the estimated 55,000 children living nearby. According to UNICEF, children accounted for a disproportionate number of UXO-related casualties in the region, with many killed, maimed, or left with life-altering injuries.

During brief ceasefires, mine clearance initiatives made some progress. International organisations, including the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), assisted in removing thousands of mines and other unexploded devices. However, these efforts were quickly undone by renewed fighting.

The current crisis: UXO since the 2022 invasion

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has vastly increased the scale and complexity of the UXO problem. According to the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), more than 80,000 explosive devices were cleared in the first year alone, with the true scale of contamination likely to take decades to fully assess.

The types of UXO now scattered across Ukraine include:

• Anti-personnel and anti-tank mines: These range from simple pressure-activated mines to sophisticated devices with anti-handling mechanisms, making clearance operations extremely hazardous.
• Cluster munitions: Used by both Russian and Ukrainian forces, cluster bombs release hundreds of smaller submunitions over a wide area. Many of these bomblets fail to detonate on impact, creating dense UXO contamination.
• Abandoned and malfunctioning ordnance: It is estimated that 10–30% of explosive weapons fail to detonate as intended, leaving deadly remnants behind.
• Booby traps and improvised devices: As retreating forces abandon equipment and sabotage infrastructure, UXO experts are increasingly encountering victim-activated devices and makeshift explosive traps.

The contamination is not limited to battlefields. Residential areas, farmland, and infrastructure corridors are now strewn with UXO, severely hampering recovery efforts and putting returning civilians at risk.

Challenges of UXO clearance

Clearing UXO in Ukraine presents enormous challenges. The ongoing conflict makes large-scale demining efforts impossible in some regions, as shifting frontlines and continued bombardments place clearance teams in direct danger.

Even in areas that are relatively stable, demining is a slow and meticulous process. Specialists must identify, mark, and safely dispose of each device – work that can take years for heavily contaminated sites. The presence of modern, sophisticated ordnance makes the task even more complex. Many of the mines and munitions deployed in the current conflict contain electronic components, making them more difficult to detect and disarm.

Innovative responses and future planning

Despite the immense scale of the problem, Ukrainian authorities and international partners are making progress. Clearance teams are working alongside UN experts, NGOs, and private companies to improve efficiency and safety through data-sharing and advanced technologies.

In 2023, Brimstone was invited to Ukraine by the United Nations Development Programme at the request of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine to demonstrate how drone surveying combined with machine learning could enhance the efficiency and accuracy of UXO detection. Our UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology offers a safer, faster, and more comprehensive way to survey contaminated areas – reducing risks to personnel and accelerating the clearance process.

Meanwhile, organisations such as the Explosive Ordnance Risk Education Advisory Group (EORE) are working to educate aid workers and civilians still in the region. They are producing materials that teach individuals how to recognise UXO, avoid dangerous areas, and report suspicious objects. These educational efforts are vital for reducing casualties, particularly among children.

Long-term impact and the road to recovery

Even when the fighting eventually ends, UXO will remain a danger for years to come. It is estimated that landmine clearance in Ukraine could take decades, even with sustained international support. The contamination of farmland, residential areas, and transport routes will significantly delay the country’s reconstruction efforts.

For returning refugees and displaced families, the presence of UXO will be a constant risk. Civilians will need ongoing education and awareness training to help them identify and avoid explosive hazards.

Humanitarian mine clearance organisations, supported by governments and the private sector, will need to invest in advanced detection technologies, increased training, and large-scale decontamination operations to make the land safe again.

Brimstone UXO: supporting global UXO mitigation

At Brimstone, we are proud to support global UXO mitigation efforts through our advanced surveying, risk assessment, and disposal services. Our commitment to innovation and safety allows us to contribute to humanitarian initiatives, reducing the dangers of UXO in conflict-affected regions.

To learn more about our UXO risk assessment, survey, investigation, and disposal services, visit our website or contact our team directly.

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