The United States has announced that it will provide Ukraine $89m (£73m) to enable the country remove land mines set up by forces of Russia.
According to the US State Department, approximately five million Ukrainians are still residing in areas threatened by bombs planted by the Russians.
In a statement, the US Department said “Russia’s unlawful and unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine has littered massive swaths of the country with landmines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices.”
These explosive hazards are reportedly blocking access to fertile farmland, delay reconstruction efforts, prevent displaced communities from returning to their homes, as well as maiming innocent civilians in Ukraine.
Since March, about 160,000 mines have been defused in Ukraine due to the ongoing war.
An official says Ukraine’s challenge to attempt to disarm unexploded ordnance “may be on a par” with similar efforts in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos following the American war of the 1960s and 70s.