**Ukraine Starts Demining Site to Test New Technologies**
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry is creating a test site for new demining technologies, including those that use artificial intelligence. This was announced in a statement on February 11.
According to the Economy Ministry, over 139,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian land are contaminated with explosives from the war. It’s expected to take more than 10 years and cost $35 billion to clear these areas.
**A New Way to Clear Mines**
Olha Drobot, representative of the Secretariat of the National Mine Action Authority, said that the test site can be a unique platform for research, testing, and training. She also mentioned that new technologies can speed up the process of clearing mines, improve safety for deminers, and reduce risks to civilians.
**New Approaches to Demining**
The meeting participants discussed new ways to use satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to find minefields and identify safe areas. They also talked about using neural networks to recognize minefields automatically.
**Ukraine’s Demining Efforts**
Ukraine is the most mined country in the world, with 30,000 square kilometers of mines cleared over the past two years. This area is comparable to the size of Belgium or Moldova.
Sadly, many civilians have been injured or killed by mines since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. According to UN monitors, 399 people were killed and 915 were hurt by mines.
**International Help**
Multiple countries are helping Ukraine with demining efforts, providing training and equipment to speed up the process.
