A Guide to Handling the Threat of Mining
Since the beginning of hostilities in Ukraine, military personnel and explosive ordnance disposal specialists of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine have neutralized thousands of munitions and aerial bombs. The threat of mines in areas where hostilities have taken place remains high. We offer a list of recommendations on how to behave in areas where there is a risk of mines and other explosive devices.
If you see a suspicious object or warning signs
- Stop.
- Do not touch it (do not move it, pick it up, or “take a closer look”).
- Move away along the same path to a safe distance.
- Call 101, 102, or 112 and warn others.
Places where mines, explosive devices, and unexploded ordnance are present (including small-arms ammunition, artillery shells, mortar rounds, cluster munitions, grenades, fuzes, and rockets) may be hard to notice. If hostilities are ongoing in an area, or if they took place there during military aggression, treat the area as dangerous. Therefore, the main recommendation for all civilians is to avoid potentially dangerous areas as much as possible.
Mine clearance and the disposal of mines, improvised explosive devices, and unexploded ordnance must be carried out exclusively by military specialists or emergency service specialists. Until local authorities and/or emergency services inform the public that the danger has been eliminated, it is unsafe to move through such areas on your own.
Interactive map of areas potentially contaminated by explosive hazards from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine: mine.dsns.gov.ua.
Main types of mines and explosive devices
Mines are designed to kill and maim people, incapacitate vehicles due to damage caused by an explosion, debris, or, in the case of some anti-tank mines, by a jet of molten metal. Most mines are deliberately placed hidden, so they can rarely be seen. Those are usually buried within 15 cm of the ground surface or placed on or above the ground (e.g. on pegs or attached to trees).
Mines can be detonated under direct pressure, with the help of tripwires, rods, as well as through command detonation or a certain combination of these methods. Typically, mine casings are in brown, olive, green, black, brown, grey, or a combination of colors. Some explosive mines are still made of metal or wood, but most modern mines are made of plastic and are difficult to detect with standard metal detection equipment. Such mines can be watertight and therefore dangerous, even if they are covered with water.
Unexploded ordnance includes grenades, missiles, mortars, artillery shells, bombs, cluster munitions, and fuses. They can function almost like landmines, exploding from movement or touch. Some munitions also contain motion-sensitive thermal detectors or magnetic sensors, while others may have the function of a self-destruct timer. Do not use walkie-talkies within a radius of 15 meters from unexploded ordnance since when transmitting, walkies emit waves that can cause detonation.
A booby trap is a device or material designed to injure or kill, which detonates unexpectedly when a person or vehicle approaches or disturbs a seemingly harmless object or performs a seemingly safe action. Almost any item can be turned into a booby trap, such as a magazine, a pack of cigarettes, a watch, or a toy. Booby traps can be placed anywhere and look like normal household items.
If the mines have been properly laid and camouflaged, it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to detect the mined area. Therefore, it is important to obtain up-to-date information on mines and explosive devices in your area before starting any activity.
Places of Increased Risk of Mining
In war conditions, it is not always possible to clearly define the boundaries of dangerous areas, so we suggest observing the following signs:
You can see corpses or animal skeletons in the area.
Wax packaging used to store mines, or wooden, plastic, or metal containers that resemble military ones have been found on the ground.
The territory is marked with the traditional sign “STOP! MINES!” in the form of a skull and crossed bones, or by improvised means: sticks, stones, tape, etc.
There are indications of hostilities: damaged or destroyed vehicles, equipment and structures, and pieces of metal that look like the result of an explosion.
Disturbed soil and vegetation. The laying of landmines often causes disturbances in the natural environment that appear strange or inappropriate as a result. For example, minor ruts, fresh gaps in the grass, etc. are noticeable on the soil.
Places of increased risk of mining:
Mines and explosive devices may be placed in different locations, but there is a list of high-risk locations that should be avoided:
Military positions. Mines are often planted in and around military positions and lines of confrontation. They can be found in civilian buildings used as command or observation posts, in and around the army’s recreation areas, in ambush areas, and near checkpoints.
Critical infrastructure facilities: airports, bridges, factories, warehouses, etc.
Destroyed buildings and vehicles, and equipment.
Transport routes. Mines can be found on pathways, roads, tracks, and intersections, as well as in debris or scrap along the route.
Separate civilian objects. Explosive devices can also be found at river crossings, wells, and water supply networks, in agricultural land, in vineyards, orchards, in administrative buildings and offices, and cemeteries.
How to reduce the risk of getting into the mined area:
If you are going by foot:
Check with official sources to see if the area is safe. Always collect up-to-date information when planning your route. If there is an area you know or suspect to be mined, avoid it.
Always carry a first aid kit.
When moving in a group, the distance between the members of the group should be about 25 meters.
Never walk on overgrown areas. Instead, stick to the sidewalks and paths that are frequently used.
Do not enter abandoned buildings or visit deserted places.
Do not touch suspicious objects, let alone mines and shells. Never be tempted to pick up “souvenirs” from the battle zone – you may well activate an unstable projectile or launch a booby trap designed specifically to attract your attention.
Do not approach destroyed military equipment. When armor-piercing shells strike, toxic fumes may be produced, and exposure to them can harm your health. Do not film destroyed military equipment.
Stay as far away as possible from potential military targets — military equipment and vehicles.
Choose routes with the least danger, which the military do not typically use.
If you accidentally come across what you think is an explosive device, do nothing about it. Just step back to a safe distance and warn other passers-by of the danger. Report your finding to the emergency services.
If you are going by car:
Do not travel at night. Plan your trip to end two hours before sunset. This will allow you to respond to an emergency in advance. In addition, it is not possible to see warning signs at night.
If you are driving in a column, if possible, leave a distance of 100 meters between the vehicles.
Follow the frequent routes and stay within the driveway.
Stay on paved roads whenever possible, as they tend to be mined less often. However, potholes and sides of paved roads make it possible to conceal a mine, so avoid potholes and exits from the road.
On dirt roads, stick to existing tracks.
Never bypass checkpoints of former military positions. Never drive through anything on the road. A paper bag, piece of cloth, or board can hide mines.
Always carry a first aid kit with you, do not leave it in your vehicle.
Do not move obstacles since they may be mined.
Explain this rule to children: they should not pick up anything “interesting” from the ground, even if it looks like a toy or a shiny object. If they see something suspicious, they should move back along the same path and tell an adult.
If you find yourself in a mined area
If you are moving on foot:
Stop moving immediately. Do not move or move your legs.
Look around the ground around your feet to make sure your position is safe.
Slowly and carefully, without moving, look around to see if you can spot mines, wires, etc.
Squat without moving your legs and look for wires or traces of mines.
Warn others immediately. Call emergency services for help, but keep others as far away from the dangerous area as possible.
Explore the area. What else can you see: mines, wires, signs warning of mines?
Locate the nearest safe area – the last place you knew you were on a hard safe surface, such as a paved road, dirt road, concrete, or steel structure.
Do not move unless you can identify or reach a safe area.
Wait for the help to arrive.
If you are in a car:
Stop any further movement of the vehicle, do not attempt to reverse or move the steering wheel.
Stay inside the vehicle. Keep calm.
If you can, give first aid to those car passengers who need it.
Notify and warn the people around you. Use the car horn to draw attention to yourself, but keep people away from the dangerous area. Please contact the emergency service for assistance.
Pay attention to the area. What else can you see?
Inspect the area to detect suspicious objects, mines, wires, and warning signs.
Do not change your position. Qualified help will come to your rescue.
If you have to leave the vehicle (for example, if your vehicle is on fire), exit it so that you do not have to touch the ground until you are on the road facing backward as you came in. Go only as far as you need to to stay safe. Do not move from a safe location before the help arrives. If there is more than one person, go out one by one, keeping a distance of 25 meters from each other.
When you exit the mined area, make sure you report the threat to emergency services. Do not attempt to mark the mined area yourself!
If someone was injured by a mine
Consider the key actions to take if you witness an incident involving mines or explosive devices and qualified emergency medical assistance is unavailable.
The casualty should be taken to a hospital within one hour, because the blood vessels and capillaries around the wound constrict in response to trauma, reducing bleeding and compressing damaged tissues. During this so-called “golden hour,” rescuers should get the injured person to a place where blood transfusion and proper surgical care are available.
While you’re waiting for help to arrive, follow these steps:
Make sure you are safe.
Keep calm. Do not rush to the victim and do not try to save them in the mined area.
Call emergency services and call an ambulance.
Pay attention to the time and exact location of the incident.
If you can safely reach the casualty, stop the bleeding and provide emergency first aid within the limits of your training.
Warn the casualty not to move and inform them that help is already on the way.
Stabilize the casualty and prepare them for transportation.
When leaving the territory of the incident, report its coordinates and signs to the authorities and/or by calling emergency numbers. Do not attempt to mark the mined area yourself!
Important information for the media, bloggers and all citizens who photograph or write about war and the army
What is categorically prohibited to be covered by the mass media during wartime:
- names of bases and subdivisions, as well as their locations
- the number of soldiers in bases and units
- the number of weapons and equipment, their condition and place of storage
- conditional marks of objects
Any information about:
- operations carried out or planned
- system of protection and defense of military units
- available military protection such as: weapons and equipment(except visible or obviously expressed)
- procedure for engaging forces (military) and facilities (weapons)
- intelligence gathering
- movement and deployment of troops (names, numbers, routes)
- military units and their tactics, methods of action
- unique operations and their execution methods
- the effectiveness of the enemy’s electronic warfare
- postponed or canceled operations
- missing or crashed aircraft, ship and search and rescue operations
- plans for the security of our troops (disinformation, camouflage, countermeasures)
- informational and psychological operations carried out or planned
- propaganda or justification of russia’s large-scale armed aggression against Ukraine.
Do not post on social media:
- consequences of hits by enemy’s missiles or projectiles or moments of their flight in the sky. By doing so you will help the enemy to adjust the fire.
- time and place of “hits” (neither in publications nor in comments)
- information about the work of the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces
- a photo showing numbers, special markings and markings on destroyed or downed enemy equipment.
- unverified information about victims or dead.
