In Ukraine's Kharkiv region, where 37% of the territory was under occupation, approximately 300 deminers from 68 teams are working to survey 1.256 million hectares of contaminated land, Deputy Head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Yevhen Ivanov announced during Second Ukraine Mine Action Conference.

After liberation, regional authorities faced the challenge of surveying 1.256 million hectares, including 600,000 hectares of agricultural land, 200,000 hectares of forest, and the rest comprising residential areas, power lines, roads, and public spaces.

Ivanov emphasized the vast scope of work: "At this pace, it would take 120 years just to survey the land, not to mention actual demining. As such, the region prioritizes power lines, gas networks, and railways."

Urban areas in Kharkiv region have largely been surveyed, with the Tsyrkuny territorial community serving as a success story—it was fully cleared in 2023 with international verification. However, large-scale demining of forests and agricultural lands remains untouched.

Agriculture constitutes 60% of the region's export products and forms the economic backbone of many communities. "Rapid demining of farmland is critical for enabling people to return to their communities and restoring local economic activity," Ivanov stated, calling for increased demining equipment from international partners.