Both sides in the Russia-Ukraine war extensively use mines to stave off or slow military operations and contaminate areas with explosive remnants of war (ERW). These explosive devices are producing dire and lasting effects on civilian populations on both sides of the line of contact. The incidents have mostly occurred in areas that have been directly affected by fighting, including the Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions, which were partially occupied only in late February and March 2022.
In the four years prior to the all-out war, incidents involving mines and other explosives were waning, and 90% occurred in the conflict-affected areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Between January 2018 and early 2022, nearly 55% of all such explosions affected civilians, leading to 77 reported deaths (compared with 139 among armed personnel). The number of incidents increased nearly nine times as a result of the Russian invasion, remaining comparably high in its second year. Since 24 February 2022, ACLED records over 1,200 incidents, with around 75% affecting civilians and reportedly killing over 550 people.
Almost half of all incidents occurred in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions (the latter was liberated by Ukrainian forces in September 2022), closely followed by the Kherson region. The number of incidents increased sharply in the northern-bank Kherson region, from which Russian forces retreated in November 2022. ACLED notes a similar pattern upon Russian withdrawals from northern and northeastern Ukraine in March and September 2022.
In addition to contaminating large areas with anti-vehicle mines and other explosives, both sides use anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions1Neither Russia nor Ukraine are party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. While Russia is not party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, Ukraine limited the implementation of the treaty due to Russian occupation of parts of its territory since 2014. that put civilians at increased risk. Nearly a quarter of recorded incidents affecting civilians were caused by anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions, of which 56% occurred in the Donetsk region and especially in and around the eponymous Russian-occupied city.
Incidents involving mines and other explosives particularly affect farmers, who were impacted by 16% of all recorded events. Farmers are also more likely than others to hit anti-tank mines, as fields present a greater demining challenge than roads and residential areas. Most incidents occurred in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions.
The ongoing airstrikes and shelling of the liberated regions is likely to result in their greater contamination with explosives and therefore increased risk to civilians. Russia’s continuous targeting of the northern bank Kherson region may render it one of the most contaminated areas in Ukraine despite the absence of major fighting.
For more information on the war in Ukraine:
Still Under Fire: The Evolving Fate of Civilians in Ukraine
Q&A: Behind the data on civilian suffering in Ukraine
Follow the ACLED Ukraine Conflict Monitor for weekly updates and other analysis.
Visuals produced by Ana Marco.