Dangerous find in the fields of the "Husarivske" agricultural cooperative in the Kharkiv region

Systematic and painstaking humanitarian demining work continues in the liberated territories of Kharkiv region. Our sappers continue clearing agricultural lands of the Husarivske Agricultural Cooperative, an enterprise that was one of the largest dairy farms in Ukraine before the full-scale invasion. Materials about this, as well as about the terrible consequences of the occupation for the economy, will be published in our next publications.

During another field inspection, our specialists discovered a dangerous find - a 125 mm high-explosive fragmentation tank grenade shell weighing over 19.8 kg, which was in combat condition and posed a serious danger to people and equipment. The ammunition was seized and transferred for further disposal.

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining - GICHD handbooks : "Mine and ERW Risk Education Guide", "A Guide to Mine Action", "Guidelines for Mine/ERW Operators" note that this 125mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile has a "wide zone of impact", as it combines high-explosive action (wide-radius shock wave, possible fires) and fragmentation (hundreds of fragments fly over large areas), which makes this projectile extremely dangerous in civilian areas.

Even one such unexploded ordnance can cause an explosion with serious consequences, a large-scale fire, or the destruction of equipment.

For an agricultural enterprise, this could mean a long-term shutdown and additional economic costs for recovery.

If such a shell were to explode while the farmers of this farm were working in the field (for example, while cultivating the soil, driving a tractor, or while workers were working directly on the land plots):

• workers who were nearby (within 20-50 m) could die instantly or be seriously injured;

• a tractor or other equipment within a radius of several dozen meters could be damaged or catch fire;

• light structures (shed, warehouse) - damaged or destroyed; near the scattering of fragments there would be a risk of secondary injuries even for those who would be within a radius of 100-200 m.;

• further away - broken windows of buildings, possible injuries to people and animals from small fragments.

In addition, it should be noted that explosive residues can react with soil moisture, forming toxic compounds that negatively affect microflora and plant roots. And some components of the projectile can cause chemical contamination and remain active for dozens of months, reducing fertility and making the soil unsafe for agricultural use.

Thanks to the professional actions of the sappers of the Ukrainian Demining Agency LLC, a serious tragedy was avoided.

Every piece of ammunition seized means lives saved, fields preserved, and the opportunity for farmers to return to work in the near future.

And we continue to do everything possible to restore the safe use of these lands and return peaceful life to the deoccupied Kharkiv region.