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2 civilians killed by unexploded ordnance in Kharkiv Oblast

2 min read
2 civilians killed by unexploded ordnance in Kharkiv Oblast
This photograph shows a warning sign which reads "Dangerous! Mines!" placed near destroyed houses during a demining operation in Hrakove village, Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast, on April 18, 2023. (Sergey Bobok/AFP via Getty Images)

An unidentified explosive device killed two men in a field near the heavily mined village of Hrakove in Kharkiv Oblast on Oct. 11, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

"The civilian population of Kharkiv Oblast continues to suffer from Russian mines and unexploded ordnance," the governor wrote on social media.

Emergency services are working on the site of the explosion, Syniehubov said. The circumstances of the incident are being established, he added.

Hrakove lies in the Chuhuiv district, roughly 50 kilometers southeast of Kharkiv and 70 kilometers south of the Russian border.

The village was occupied by Russian forces during Moscow's offensive into Kharkiv Oblast last year until its liberation in Ukraine's fall counteroffensive. According to Ukrinform, Hrakove's houses and civilian infrastructure were largely destroyed during the occupation, and retreating invaders left behind a large number of landmines.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on March 1 that nearly one-third of Ukraine's territory had been mined since the start of the full-scale invasion.

According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, 250 people have been killed by mines in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war, and over 500 have been injured or maimed.

Russia is covering Ukraine with landmines. Clearing them will be extremely difficult
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Martin Fornusek

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Martin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian.

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