Ukraine employs AI technology to tackle dangerous minefields
- Ukraine has become the most heavily mined country due to the ongoing conflict with Russia.
- Clearing these landmines could take 757 years using traditional methods, resulting in significant humanitarian risks.
- To tackle this issue, Ukraine has adopted innovative AI and robotic solutions for accelerated and safer mine clearance.
Amid the ongoing conflict caused by the Russian invasion, Ukraine has become the most severely affected country by landmines. As of September 2025, it is estimated that removing these mines would take an astounding 757 years with traditional methods. The humanitarian demining teams, tasked with clearing mines and aiding civilians, have faced increased dangers, particularly after a Russian missile strike targeted a Danish Refugee Council demining team, resulting in two fatalities and several injuries. The peril surrounding human demining has heightened with Russian forces attacking these teams directly, making a hazardous mission even more perilous. In a rapid response to these dangers and the pressing need for mine clearance, Ukraine has turned to artificial intelligence and robotics for innovative solutions. Early in the conflict, the Ministry of Ecology collaborated with Dropla, a tech company, highlighting the impact of mines on the environment and wildlife. Recognizing the potential of their AI expertise, Dropla’s founders aimed to address one of Ukraine’s gravest challenges: landmine clearance. The company has developed unmanned ground vehicles that can execute various tasks, significantly simplifying the process of clearing mines. These rugged platforms are designed to carry different swappable payloads, improving operational efficiency. Currently, these robots can effectively detonate anti-personnel mines and clear brush, which reduces the risk and labor demands placed on human demining teams. The accuracy of the robotic systems has now reached approximately 80%, continually improving as they compile a proprietary dataset of more than one million images of minefields. The integration of robotics and AI into military operations, including demining, showcases a transformative shift in warfare. The adaptation to these technological advancements not only aims to mitigate risks to human life in extremely hostile environments but also enhances the overall efficacy of demining efforts across the war-affected regions of Ukraine.