On Wednesday, November 1, the Ukrainian army announced that since the Russian military invasion of the country, mines and other explosives have caused the death of over 260 civilians. According to Reuters, Kyiv estimates that 174,000 square kilometers, about one-third of the country's territory, is potentially filled with mines or remnants of military munitions. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated in a Telegram message that at least 571 people have been injured in more than 56 incidents related to mines or unexploded ordnance from the war. According to this staff, nearly a quarter of these incidents occurred in agricultural fields. Some Ukrainian farmers are working in areas that are likely contaminated with mines or explosives, accepting the risks involved. Ukraine is in urgent need of vehicles, equipment, and demining experts, and this process will cost at least $37 billion. Kyiv hopes to secure this budget through its international partners. In another incident, Ukrainian officials reported on Wednesday, November 1, that a drone attack by Russia set fire to the "Kremenchuk" oil refinery in central Ukraine, causing power outages in three villages. According to Reuters, the downing of some of these drones also damaged the region's railway power lines. Philip Pronin, head of the military administration of the Poltava region, stated that the fire at this refinery, which Moscow has targeted multiple times during the war, was quickly extinguished. The extent of the damage is unclear, but Kyiv claims that this facility has not been operational for a long time. The Ukrainian Air Force announced that the country's air defense shot down 18 out of 20 drones and one missile launched by Russia overnight before they reached their targets, infrastructure, and vital resources in Ukraine. According to a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, the focus of the attack was Poltava, and this region was attacked in several waves. The Russian drone attacks caused damage to residential homes and some centers and facilities in the area, but there were no casualties reported.
Ukrainian Army: Mines and Explosives Have Caused the Death of Over 260 Civilians in Ukraine
The Ukrainian army reports that over 260 civilians have died due to mines and unexploded ordnance since the Russian invasion, with significant areas of the country potentially contaminated. Additionally, a Russian drone attack targeted an oil refinery, causing power outages but no casualties. This highlights the ongoing humanitarian and infrastructural challenges faced by Ukraine amidst the conflict.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Ukrainian army reported that over 260 civilians have died due to mines and unexploded ordnance since the Russian invasion, and a Russian drone attack targeted an oil refinery, causing power outages but no casualties.
- 174,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory are potentially contaminated with mines.
- Ukraine needs $37 billion for demining efforts and equipment.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the country has faced widespread destruction and humanitarian crises, including civilian casualties from military actions and unexploded ordnance.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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