Russian mines injure 1,739 civilians, including 178 children, since start of full-scale war

Landmines are explosive devices placed on, under, or near the ground. They are designed to detonate when a person, vehicle, or another trigger activates them. Explosive remnants of war are munitions left behind after fighting, including weapons that failed to explode when used. Both can remain dangerous after battles stop.

The distinction matters because a mine is usually deliberately emplaced, while an explosive remnant may be abandoned or unexploded. A farmer returning to a field, a driver using a road, or a child exploring an area may encounter either hazard. The article reports that mines and explosive remnants have injured civilians in Ukraine.

These weapons make ordinary land and infrastructure unsafe. Finding and removing them requires trained specialists and reliable records. Ukraine’s mine-action authorities collect data on incidents and casualties, while the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a unified procedure for planning humanitarian demining. That work supports safer communities and economic activity.

Since the start of the full-scale war, 1,739 civilians have been injured by Russian mines, according to the article. Among them are 178 children. These figures show that the danger reaches beyond soldiers and active battle zones. Civilian injuries remain a central part of the mine-action challenge.

The total includes people with different jobs and circumstances. The listed victims include farmers, unemployed people, retirees, critical infrastructure workers, drivers, and students. This range shows how mines can affect people working, traveling, studying, or living in affected areas. Children are especially represented in the reported toll, with 178 injured.

The figures are collected and checked through Ukraine’s mine-action information system. Regional administrations, emergency-service units, and police provide incident information. The Main Directorate for Mine Action analyzes and verifies it. Reliable totals help authorities understand the scale of harm and plan humanitarian demining.

Mine injuries have affected civilians from many parts of society. The article lists 306 farmers, 256 unemployed people, 170 retirees, 166 critical infrastructure workers, 112 drivers, and 171 students among the victims. Farmers are the largest specifically identified group in that list.

These categories show that mine danger is not limited to one occupation. Farmers may encounter hazards while working land. Drivers can face them on roads or near damaged routes. Infrastructure workers may be exposed while repairing essential services. Students and retirees represent civilians whose daily activities can also bring them into affected areas.

The listed groups are part of the broader total of 1,739 injured civilians, including 178 children. Ukraine’s authorities record these incidents through information received from regional administrations, emergency-service units, and police. Documenting who is harmed helps make the human impact visible and supports decisions about mine action and humanitarian demining.

Mines and unexploded weapons do not disappear when front lines move. They can remain buried, hidden in vegetation, or overlooked among damaged buildings and roads. An explosive remnant may also fail to detonate during combat but remain capable of exploding later. This creates a delayed danger for civilians.

The risk rises when people resume ordinary activities. A farmer may cultivate land, a driver may use a route, or a worker may repair infrastructure. Without accurate marking or clearance, people can enter contaminated areas unknowingly. The article’s victim categories demonstrate this continuing exposure: farmers, drivers, infrastructure workers, students, retirees, and unemployed people were among those injured.

That is why mine action continues after fighting changes location. Ukraine records incidents and casualties through its information system and is planning humanitarian demining under a unified procedure approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. Mapping hazards, warning communities, and clearing land can reduce future civilian injuries.

Humanitarian demining is civilian-focused work to identify and remove mines and explosive remnants of war. It aims to make land, roads, and infrastructure safe for people rather than support military operations. The Cabinet of Ministers’ approval of a unified procedure gives Ukraine a common framework for planning this work.

In practice, specialists first use reports and other information to identify suspected hazardous areas. Teams can then survey locations, mark dangers, and clear explosives under controlled conditions. After clearance and appropriate checks, authorities can release land for safer civilian use. The article does not describe specific equipment or clearance techniques, so those details are not provided here.

The need is substantial. Russian mines have injured 1,739 civilians since the full-scale war began, including 178 children. Reliable incident data helps authorities decide where humanitarian demining is needed most. A unified planning procedure can help coordinate that work across affected areas and support the safe return of people to daily activities.

The Main Directorate for Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety serves as the secretariat of the National Mine Action Authority. It collects, analyzes, verifies, and enters information about mine and explosive-remnant incidents into the mine-action information management system. This creates a central record of hazards and civilian casualties.

The data comes from regional military administrations, regional units of the State Emergency Service, and the National Police. These institutions report incidents and casualty information from affected areas. The directorate then checks and processes the material before entering it into the system. This mechanism connects local reporting with national mine-action planning.

Such information matters because authorities need a dependable picture of where incidents occur and who is affected. The article reports 1,739 injured civilians, including 178 children, plus victims from several occupations. Verified records can guide humanitarian demining planning and help officials track the continuing civilian impact of mines and explosive remnants.

Landmines are considered a long-term threat because their danger can persist after active fighting ends. They may remain hidden in civilian areas and harm people who were not involved in hostilities. Under international humanitarian law, parties must distinguish civilians from military targets and take precautions to reduce civilian harm. Weapons that continue threatening civilians after combat raise serious humanitarian concerns.

The legal framework regulates mines through rules on distinction, proportionality, and precautions, as well as specific treaties and protocols. The Ottawa Treaty bans use, stockpiling, production, and transfer for states that are parties to it. The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons also regulates mines for its parties. These rules reflect the enduring risks created by contaminated land.

Ukraine’s reported toll shows why the issue remains urgent: 1,739 civilians, including 178 children, have been injured since the full-scale war began. Recording incidents and planning humanitarian demining help authorities protect civilians and address hazards that outlast battlefield activity.