With Fields Littered by Ordnance, Locals Turn to Rakes, Tractors — and Drones

Kamyanka, Eastern Ukraine – In war-scarred eastern Ukraine, where lush black soil once promised prosperity, farmland is now among the most heavily mined territories on Earth. After Russian forces retreated, Larisa Sysenko and her husband Viktor resorted to clearing their fields with rakes — an act of desperation and defiance.

Just outside Kharkiv, in Korobchyne, farmer Mykola Pereverzev began demining his land using his own farm machinery.

“My tractor was blown up three times,” he said. “It was completely unrepairable. But we ended up clearing 200 hectares in two months.”

Despite the obvious danger, “absolutely everyone demines by themselves,” added Igor Kniazev, a nearby farmer. Their efforts highlight the harsh reality of survival in Ukraine’s agricultural heartland.

The Most Mined Soil in the World

Ukraine’s rich “black earth”, famed for its fertility, is now cursed by war. According to experts speaking with AFP, this region has become the most mined land in the world, following over three years of intense artillery exchanges — the most severe Europe has seen since World War II.

Military analysts estimate:

• 1 in 10 shells fired fails to explode

• Up to one-third of North Korean munitions used by Russian forces remain intact, their explosives degrading dangerously where they fall

Millions of unexploded shells and landmines now contaminate fields once critical to global food supply.

Drone Technology Offers Hope

Despite the enormous challenge, technology may hold the key to reclaiming Ukraine’s farmland.
Drones, already central to Ukraine’s war strategy, are also revolutionizing the demining process.

Over 80 NGOs and commercial demining groups, many supported by international donors, are using drone surveillance to map, detect, and assist in clearance operations. These efforts aim to protect lives while accelerating safe agricultural recovery.

The Fight to Feed and Rebuild

Ukraine’s role as a global breadbasket is under threat — not just from war, but from what lingers in its aftermath. With landmines burying the promise of every harvest, ordinary farmers are becoming first responders in a dangerous recovery mission.

Their perseverance, backed by global innovation and support, may yet help restore Ukraine’s fields — one safe furrow at a time.