KHARKIV OBLAST, UKRAINE, Apr 29 — On April 28, at 8:30 p.m., a 48-year-old man was injured by a mine explosion in his yard in the village of Bairak, Balakiliia community, reported the press service of the State Emergency Service in the Kharkiv Oblast and the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov.

There is information that the man was injured by the explosion of a PFM-1 “Petal” mine. This is an anti-personnel landmine that is triggered by pressure. It is very dangerous because it can be disguised as grass or foliage.

The man received an explosive wound with damage to his right eye. The victim is in the hospital.

Currently, more than 570,000 hectares of land in the Kharkiv region need to be inspected for mines and explosive devices after the Russian occupation. About 1.2 million hectares are considered to be contaminated. According to Oleh Syniehubov, 138 sapper teams are working on demining the region — and, to accelerate the process, another 300 are needed.

According to the Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko, 289 people, including 15 children, have been killed by explosives since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

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  • Yesterday, on April 14, a 64-year-old man was injured by an anti-personnel mine explosion on the shore of a reservoir near the village of Martove, Chuhuiv district, reported the State Emergency Service in the Kharkiv Oblast.