Due to the Russian war of aggression, Ukraine is now one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. More than a quarter of its territory — more than 14 million hectares — are considered to be contaminated with mines.
An unimaginably large area possibly contaminated, which so far has claimed hundreds of Ukrainian civilian lives. But apart from innocent civilians who lose their lives or have to live with sometimes severe injuries, the Ukrainian economy is also affected by this.
Agriculture accounts for the majority of Ukraine’s exports and is therefore not only important for stabilising its own economy during the Russian war of aggression, but also for ensuring global food security.
To clear agricultural land of mines as quickly and effectively as possible, it is best to use state-of-the-art mine clearance machines, which are unfortunately still in short supply despite ongoing deliveries.
It is therefore all the more pleasing that I can report that Hamburg has handed over four state-of-the-art remote-controlled GCS-200 demining platforms to Ukraine, at least one of which is being used by the Explosive Ordnance Department of the National Police of Ukraine.
This was confirmed to me by a spokesperson for Hamburg’s Department of Home Affairs and Sport upon my enquiry.
Image: GCSA remote-controlled GCS-200 demining platform is worth around €1 million and can clear an area the size of a football pitch of explosive ordnance every day.
They are manufactured by the Swiss company Global Clearance Solutions in Stockach, Germany.
According to GCS, around 60 GCS-100 & GCS-200 have already been delivered to Ukraine, which makes them the world’s leading supplier of systems for humanitarian demining in Ukraine.
The procurement and delivery is the result of a decision by the Hamburg Senate in September 2023 to provide around €10 million for the procurement and delivery of mine clearing equipment to Ukraine.
Besides the four GCS-200 demining platforms, Hamburg so far also delivered 30 mine detectors and 5,000 thermal lances to the Explosive Ordnance Department of the National Police of Ukraine.
Further deliveries such as 20 bomb protection suits and 10 manipulators for transporting and destroying IEDs are scheduled for this year.
The comprehensive delivery of mine clearance equipment is part of Hamburg’s ongoing efforts to support Ukraine with humanitarian aid, especially its twin city Kyiv.
Since 2022, the deliveries have also included 14 ambulances, two specialised vans for setting up mobile treatment centres for up to 250 people, at least 165 pallets of medical products, generators, three minibuses and more.
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