Switzerland to Send 60 Mine-Clearing Vehicles to Ukraine

Ukraine announced on Wednesday that they will receive 60 mine-clearing vehicles from Switzerland by mid-next year, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the German Development Bank.

Ukraine's Ukrinform news agency reported that the Swiss company Global Clearance Solutions will deliver the vehicles next year to assist the Ukrainian army in detecting and disarming mines planted by Russia.

The company stated in a press release, "By mid-next year, we will have delivered 60 mine-clearing vehicles to Ukraine, helping create safe environments, facilitating civilian recovery, and saving lives."

In May of this year, the Swiss company had announced its intention to transport around 20 mine-clearing vehicles to Ukraine during 2023.

These vehicles will be used to clear mines and unexploded ordnance from agricultural lands and critical infrastructure in abandoned areas in Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions.

Last month, the Swiss company inaugurated a service center for mine-clearing vehicles in Ukraine. 

The center's mission is to provide advice to Ukrainian specialists and assist in the maintenance and repair of mine-clearing vehicles.

According to initial estimates, nearly 174,000 square kilometers in Ukraine may be contaminated with explosive ordnance.