KHARKIV OBLAST, UKRAINE, May 2 — On May 1, at 12:10 a.m., a tractor hit an explosive device near the village of Hlynske, Izium district of Kharkiv region, reported the Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov. The explosion injured a 46-year-old driver.

Ukraine is currently one of the most mined countries in the world. Due to the Russian full-scale invasion, more than one fourth of Ukraine’s territory is potentially affected by explosives. Kharkiv Oblast is one of the most heavily mined regions. Among the most dangerous communities due to mining are the borderline communities of Vovchansk, Vilkhuvata, Petropavlivka, and Borova. 

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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  • On April 29, at 6:11 p.m., a mine explosion injured a 59-year-old man in the forest belt of Velyki Prokhody village, Derhachi community, reported Oleh Syniehubov, the head of Kharkiv Regional Military Administration.