Ukrainian journalist reports on demining process from Azerbaijan's liberated areas

A journalist from the "Ukraine Now" publication has visited the liberated territories of Azerbaijan to observe the large-scale demining process taking place there.

According to Caliber.Az, he noted in his report that despite the ongoing work of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), local residents are still being blown up by stepping on a mine every week. The journalist underlined the fact that about 300 Azerbaijani citizens have already been injured by mines and 50 of them have passed away.

The Ukrainian journalist informed his audience in his report that the once line of contact with the Armenian troops stretched along 300 km, with the size of the with mines contaminated area comparable in size to a country like Qatar. It may take several decades to clear such an area of mines.

"The Armenians had provided the Azerbaijanis with mine-laying maps, which were only 25% accurate and were therefore not used. Currently, about 500 people are working on the demining process. Last year there were 2,000 of them because the government invited foreigners, but since their services are expensive, Azerbaijanis decided to teach their own specialists.

Croatian equipment is being employed in the demining process. The machine, equipped with a bucket and hammers, is able to pierce through the ground to a depth of 20 cm. A high-speed pulse is generated that reaches a depth of 50 cm, and the mines are not put any deeper. Anti-personnel mines do not cause any damage to equipment, and only a few hammers have been demolished from the detonation of anti-tank ones", the Ukrainian journalist reported.