Mines and unexploded munitions have injured 1,688 civilians in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion
Ukraine says mines and unexploded ordnance have harmed 1,688 civilians since Russia's full-scale invasion began, with farmers the hardest-hit occupational group.
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, mines and unexploded munitions have harmed 1,688 civilians across Ukraine, according to official Ukrainian data.
Among the various occupational groups affected, farmers have been hit hardest. This reflects the fact that rural and agricultural areas have become among the most heavily contaminated with explosive hazards during the war - mines, artillery shells and other unexploded ordnance that people encounter while working the land.
The most contaminated country since World War II
The United Nations Mine Action Service describes Ukraine as the country with the heaviest contamination from explosive remnants of war since the Second World War. This means a significant portion of Ukrainian territory - including farmland and other agricultural areas - still contains unexploded ordnance that threatens the safety of local residents even in places where active fighting has already ended.
This situation creates long-term risks not only for individuals but for the country's economy as a whole, since agriculture has historically been one of Ukraine's most important economic sectors. Contaminated land restricts farming activity and requires large-scale, long-term demining work, which is considered one of the most costly and time-consuming tasks in the country's postwar recovery.
