Currently, 31 pyrotechnic crews of the State Emergency Service are working in Kharkiv region, including 157 deminers and 62 units of special equipment.

Source: Yevhen Vasylenko, spokesperson for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv Oblast

“The deminers continue to inspect electricity lines and work at the locals’ request. More than 3,160 hectares of territory and 2,057 kilometers / 1 278 mi of power lines have been checked. A total of 72,304 explosives have been detected and neutralized. Over the past week, three explosions on explosive devices occurred, resulting in one person being injured,” Yevhen Vasylenko said.

Thus, agricultural machinery was blown up on June 29 in Borova and July 1 in Barvinkove communities of Izyum district. In both cases, tractors exploded on unknown ammunition, no people were injured.

On June 30, a 13-year-old teenager was injured in the village of Panyutine, Lozova district, due to careless handling of an explosive device (previously a grenade). He was hospitalized with traumatic amputation of the fingers of his left hand.

The spokesman emphasized that the entire de-occupied territory is dangerous. Therefore, visiting forests, forest belts, and areas with tall grass is forbidden. It is also forbidden to go near water reservoirs. You can only travel on roads with a hard or asphalt surface.

Anti-personnel mine PFM-1

Kharkiv Oblast is one of the most contaminated with explosive devices, with Kupiansk, Vovchansk, and Izium forestries being the most affected.

PFM-1 is one of the most widespread anti-personnel mines that Russians leave in the occupied territories in forests, around roads, trails, parks, and even in the yards of private houses.

This land mine is a high-explosive anti-personnel landmine produced by the Soviet Union and Russia. It has several names, including the Green Parrot and the Butterfly Mine. These mines can be scattered from helicopters, combat aircrafts, and mortars. They glide to the ground without detonating and only explode upon contact at a later time.

PFM-1 mine / Photo credit: psdinfo.store

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the international community adopted the 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention prohibiting the use, production, stockpiling and transferring these weapons and requiring action to prevent and address their long-lasting effects.

See also

  • Car exploded on unidentified mine in Kharkiv Oblast: one dead. 37-year-old woman died on the spot. Two girls aged 12 and 15 and a 12-year-old boy were seriously injured. All the victims were hospitalized, and doctors were fighting for their lives.
  • Man hits mine while mowing grass at Nova Husarivka in Kharkiv Oblast. He was mowing the grass near his garden and accidentally tripped on an explosive device. The 55-year-old victim suffered numerous injuries.