Mines and homeless animals are the main problems of the de-occupied communities of the Mykolaiv Oblast

Sappers work on a minefield near Snihurivka, March 2024. Photo: Olena Kozubovska, NikVesti

Residents of the de-occupied territories of Mykolaiv region, Kherson region and Kharkiv region believe that the biggest problems of their communities are mines and a large number of homeless animals.

This was stated by Oleh Sabura, an analyst at the School of Political Analytics of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, during the presentation of the results of focus group discussions in de-occupied communities, NikVesti writes.

«One of the key security problems that could be solved is demining. It exists in all de-occupied communities. They often said that until now children cannot go to play on the playground near the house, because it is dangerous there,» Oleh Sabura said.

At the same time, according to the survey, there is also a problem with homeless animals. People said that animals should at least be vaccinated, because cases of rabies were recorded.

Among other needs, the residents of the liberated territories mentioned the restoration of critical and transport infrastructure, the provision of shelters and the Internet in schools, Oleh Sabura added. People also need psychological support.

It is also important for locals to clearly define who should be considered a collaborator, the analyst said. After all, during the occupation, some residents were forced to work for the occupying «authority». However, some residents surrendered the positions of the Ukrainian troops and reported on the locals, while others worked in communal services and ensured the livelihood of the population.

During the project, researchers conducted 15 focus groups in three regions of the country: Kharkiv (6), Kherson (7), Mykolaiv (2). The survey took place in those communities where the security situation as of October 2023 was more favorable. The project is implemented by the School of Political Analytics of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences with the support of the Program for the Promotion of Public Activity «Join!», financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Pact in Ukraine.

How is the demining of the Mykolaiv Oblast going on?

Ukraine recently updated the country's priority demining plan. According to it, more than 512,000 hectares of agricultural land are subject to priority demining, of which 44,000 hectares are in Mykolaiv Oblast.

As of December 2023, 30% of the territory of the Mykolaiv region has been mined. In total, it is 754 thousand hectares of land.

At the same time, they are working on demining in the region. For example, as of October 2023, 13 thousand 40 hectares, including 9 thousand 25 hectares of agricultural land, have been demined in the Mykolayiv region.

Dmytro Komarov, the author of the «World Inside Out.Ukraine» project, visited the mined territories of the Mykolaiv region and showed the work of local sappers. NikVesti also told about a farmer from Kyselivka, who is trying to demine his fields on his own.

About 30,000-35,000 hectares of land remain mined in the Bashtan district of the Mykolaiv region, part of which was under occupation. And in the village of Maksymivka of the Pervomaisk community of the Mykolaiv region, locals live with an unexploded shell under the foundation of the house.

In general, the demining situation in Maksymivka is currently critical. A year after liberation from the Russian occupiers, the village was demined by only 40%.

Read also the article NikVesti «Decades are needed: How the demining process of the Mykolaiv region continues».

It is known that the company «Demining of Ukraine» has developed a plant capable of demining the Mykolaiv region for three months.