A study by DataDriven Research & Consulting in partnership with the Ukrainian Association for Humanitarian Mine Action, with informational support from Calibrated

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is significantly transforming the modern field of mine clearance in Ukraine, providing faster, safer, and more efficient solutions for land demining and the removal of explosive remnants of war (ERW). According to experts, Ukraine is the most mine-contaminated country in the world, and AI technologies play a crucial role in minimizing risks and accelerating the mine clearance process.
In partnership with the Ukrainian Association for Humanitarian Mine Action and with the informational support of Calibrated, DataDriven Research & Consulting has prepared a report on the role of AI in humanitarian mine clearance.

As of 2024, approximately 156,000 square kilometers of Ukraine’s territory are potentially contaminated with explosive remnants of war, which accounts for about 25% of the country’s land area. This level of contamination is the highest since World War II, and it is expected that clearing these areas with modern methods will take decades, if not more.
Mine clearance is vital for the safe existence of the population; however, it is a complex process: costly, time-consuming, labor-intensive, dangerous, and economically inefficient. The World Bank estimates the total cost of clearing Ukraine’s mines at $37 billion.
Facing these challenges, Ukrainians have leveraged their rapidly growing IT and engineering ecosystem to create innovative AI-based solutions. AI, which is already widely used by the Ukrainian army, is now finding its place in humanitarian mine clearance.

For both technical specialists and deminers, AI offers two key advantages. First, it helps scale non-technical surveys and the mapping of antipersonnel mines, assessing the extent of contamination in suspected hazardous areas. The second advantage of AI in humanitarian mine clearance is its ability to verify the quality of cleared land. AI-equipped drones can be extremely helpful as they allow operators to scan large areas and provide an additional level of confidence that no remnants of mines remain on the ground.

Illustration
The impact of explosive remnants of war on human safety is evident, but it is much more than just a threat to civilian lives. Unexploded ordnance has significant negative consequences for the country’s economy. It affects the ability to cultivate land, hinders the free movement of people, disrupts logistics, and places additional strain on local emergency services.
For a country where agriculture is a significant part of GDP, mine-contaminated territories lead to a decrease in agricultural production and exports. This results in huge financial losses, not to mention other consequences such as disruptions in global supply chains.

AI in mine clearance is an innovative response to the problem of land contamination by mines. It can significantly accelerate the demining process and reduce costs, lowering the time and financial expenses of detecting mines. Ukraine now requires greater international support to scale this technology and ease its recovery and reconstruction.
However, the use of artificial intelligence cannot fully replace traditional mine clearance methods, nor can it guarantee absolute accuracy in mine detection. Therefore, it will be used alongside conventional technologies to improve accuracy, reduce costs, and enhance safety in the process.

Key Findings of the Study:

• AI-equipped drones are used for detecting mines with human-like accuracy, but much faster and more safely.
• AI mapping helps assess the extent of land contamination and determines which areas can be returned to use, saving millions on mine clearance.
• Quality control: AI is used to check cleared areas to ensure that no explosive devices remain.
• Challenges and limitations: AI requires further improvement to reduce the risks of false-negative and false-positive results.

Why is this important?
Mine clearance is not only a matter of safety but also economic recovery: contaminated lands affect agriculture, trade, and infrastructure.
Ukrainian innovations in the field of AI are already gaining international recognition, and with more financial and technical support, they can be scaled and applied in other countries.