Mines have killed 510 people: Ukraine's Defence Ministry reports 1,757 casualties

Figures verified by the Defence Ministry

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, 1,256 incidents involving mines and other explosive ordnance have been verified in Ukraine. They affected 1,757 people: 510 were killed and 1,247 suffered injuries of varying severity. The figures were released by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, Ukrinform and Ukrainian News reported.

The victims include pensioners, unemployed people, farmers, drivers, schoolchildren, critical infrastructure workers and deminers.

By simple arithmetic, almost one in three casualties (about 29%) died, and each incident affected 1.4 people on average. Few detonations are “minor”: even survivors often need long treatment, prosthetics and rehabilitation.

Children among the victims

The ministry gave separate figures for children. Since the start of the full-scale war, 26 children have been killed in such incidents, 25 boys and one girl. Another 145 children were injured: 125 boys and 20 girls. The ministry did not comment on why boys make up the vast majority, but the numbers are a reminder for parents to talk to children about dangerous finds.

Where the data comes from and why IMAS 13.10 matters

The figures were presented by a representative of the ministry’s Main Directorate for Mine Action, Civil Protection and Environmental Safety at a specialised workshop on the practical application of the international mine action standard IMAS 13.10, which covers assistance to victims of explosive ordnance.

The standard sets out how to ensure victims have unhindered access to psychological and psychosocial support, medical services, rehabilitation, financial and educational assistance, as well as their integration or adaptive reintegration into social and economic life.

The data system is built on an interactive map of incidents involving mines and explosive remnants of war, administered and updated by the secretariat of the National Mine Action Authority. Data on detonations is collected systematically by the ministry’s specialised directorate.

How referral to assistance works

The workshop also focused on the referral mechanism. With the victim’s written consent, their data from the National Authority’s database can be passed to a verified organisation with the relevant profile. Since 2023, 185 people have received help through this mechanism: treatment, rehabilitation, transport, distance learning and help finding work. The estimated value of this assistance is almost 3.4 million hryvnias.

“Based on this data, if a victim applies to an international organisation, it covers the costs of treatment and rehabilitation, as well as distance-learning and work equipment for people with mine-blast injuries,” the ministry explained.

The dangerous work of deminers

Those clearing the land are also at risk. As Ukrinform recalled, two State Emergency Service workers were killed during humanitarian demining in Sumy region on 28 October. TSN also recalled a tragedy in Sumy region in which two 14-year-old boys were killed by the explosion of an unidentified object.

What next

The Defence Ministry is developing its system for recording victims and referring them to assistance under IMAS 13.10. The basic rule for everyone remains the same: do not touch suspicious objects, mark the spot, retreat the way you came and call the State Emergency Service (101) or police (102).