Landmine Clearance Could Take 80 Years as Ukraine Loses $11 Billion in GDP from Contaminated Farmland.

Ukraine’s Agricultural Landmine Crisis: A Daunting Challenge

According to Espreso.tv: Ukraine is facing a painfully slow and complex process of clearing its agricultural land of explosive devices. According to the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine, fully demining these territories could take more than 80 years. From 2022 through July 2025, only 7,750 hectares of farmland had been cleared and returned to use. Meanwhile, an additional 403,000 hectares were handed back to farmers through a simplified procedure.

Why This Matters

The situation remains dire: 9.85 million hectares of agricultural land across ten Ukrainian regions are still unsafe for use. In 2026, just five contracts covering 600 hectares were completed, with a total value of 38.4 million hryvnias. Back in 2022, some farmers in frontline areas began clearing their own fields independently, but this has done little to solve the broader crisis.

Mine contamination costs Ukraine over $11 billion in lost gross domestic product each year. This demands urgent action, as Danylo Hetmantsev noted:

'Humanitarian demining of agricultural land in 2026 is progressing at a critically slow pace.'

'a cleared area is not the same as a safe area.'

Before farmland can be returned to cultivation, laboratory tests are necessary due to the risk of chemical contamination. This highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to demining and rehabilitating Ukraine’s agricultural fields.

The landmine problem in Ukraine’s agricultural sector is a critical barrier to reviving the country’s farming industry and driving economic growth. With vast tracts of land still under threat, food security and farmers’ ability to operate remain severely compromised. Solving this challenge will require coordinated efforts from the government, international organizations, and society as a whole.