Today, nearly 70 countries and territories are still affected by the presence of 110 million landmines. These devices are particularly insidious for several reasons. They can remain dormant, concealed beneath the earth, for many years before being triggered. Due to their low production cost (ranging from $3 to $75 each), those who deploy them can easily manufacture large quantities. However, removing them safely is a hazardous, time-consuming, and expensive process (estimated at $300 to $1000 per mine).
What makes landmines uniquely perilous is their inability to differentiate between combatants and civilians. The indiscriminate nature of this weapon, often deployed in civilian areas, leads to significant casualties and long-term humanitarian consequences. They not only cause loss of life and limb but also hinder communities from accessing land suitable for agriculture or the construction of hospitals, schools, and other essential facilities, including vital services such as food, water, healthcare, and humanitarian aid.
Two years after Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine, the nation has transformed into one of the most mine-laden countries in the world. As reported by Human Rights Watch, eleven out of Ukraine’s 27 regions are now scattered with mines, constituting roughly 30% of the country’s territory.
Among the hidden arsenal embedded in the ground are potent anti-vehicle mines capable of destroying tanks or large buses, alongside smaller anti-personnel mines intended to harm anyone triggering them. Additionally, there are improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance spread across the affected areas.
These mines have severely hindered Ukrainian troops’ attempts to reclaim captured territory, resulting in casualties, delaying ground offensives, and damaging armoured vehicles. Consequently, the Ukrainian military has been compelled to undertake intricate and time-consuming efforts to clear mines and create safe paths for civilians and military operations alike.
This urgent need for demining following the February 2024 meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that 20 NATO Allies have agreed to form a demining coalition.
Additionally, at NATO’s Allied Command Transformation, the focus of the Spring Innovation Challenge focuses on Remote Explosive-Contaminated Area Recognition and Neutralization, otherwise known as remote mine clearance operations. This competitive event is an opportunity for industry and intellectuals from all Allied Nations to pitch their modern initiatives and innovations to effectively contest Alliance-wide challenges. If interested in participating, submissions will close on April 16th, 2024.
In conflict and post-conflict areas, the presence of explosive-contaminated zones is a major danger to both military and civilian populations. The challenge is creating innovative solutions for remote reconnaissance and neutralization of these areas to guarantee safe passage for personnel and aid recovery efforts. Emphasizing efficiency, safety, and reducing human intervention are key priorities for these solutions.
The enduring presence of landmines around the world emphasizes the critical need for inventive approaches to their removal and deactivation. These devices’ stealthy characteristics pose a constant danger to both civilians and military personnel. Their indiscriminate nature, unable to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants, results in devastating casualties and long-term humanitarian repercussions.
The high costs, both in terms of finances and human lives, associated with mine clearance underscore the urgency of developing inventive and effective methods for their removal. NATO recognizes this pervasive need and is striving to innovate in order to secure safe and stable futures for the Alliance. By promoting collaboration and ingenuity, we can strive towards a future where the threat of landmines is eradicated, allowing communities to safely access and utilize their lands for a more prosperous and peaceful existence.