Ukraine: $244 Million from Allies for Mine Clearance in the Country

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko reported that Kyiv's allies have committed to allocate $244 million, along with special equipment, for mine clearance efforts in the country. Svyrydenko, who also serves as the Minister of Economy, stated in a statement on the government website: "Our task is not only to clear the entire area of mines to save people's lives but also to accelerate this mission. This is a matter of economic recovery, because the faster we extract mines from the ground, the quicker work can progress." Russia has laid vast areas of land in Ukraine with mines after halting its initial comprehensive invasion in the first half of last year, before shifting its forces to the east. The U.S. State Department estimated in early December that approximately 160,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian land need to be surveyed for possible mines and explosives. This area is roughly half the size of Germany.