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Over 600,000 craters from shells and missiles: Scientists study de-occupied territories of Mykolaiv and Kherson regions

Ukraine Government

Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, posted 05 May 2025 16:00

Over 600,000 craters from shells and other explosive ordnance, alongside thousands of hectares of arable land affected by war, have been documented in a study by the Ukrainian Researchers Society in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. The researchers employed a comprehensive approach, combining analysis of high-precision satellite data with on-site soil sampling and surveys. The study was commissioned by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO UN) to support efforts by the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food in clearing land of mines and other explosive remnants. The project was financially supported by the governments of Canada, Norway, and Switzerland.

In Mykolaiv region, the Ukrainian Researchers Society surveyed 980,440 hectares of the most heavily damaged territories, excluding land within a 40-kilometre frontline buffer zone, which constitutes a small portion in the south of the region. The researchers identified over 306,000 craters from shells and missiles, ranging from 0.5 to 50 metres in diameter, with a total volume of displaced soil exceeding 612,000 cubic metres. Due to explosions, over 2,334 hectares of soil were subjected to bombturbation (disruption caused by explosions), and more than 6,000 hectares were compacted by the movement of heavy military equipment. Potentially contaminated land may cover 18,800 hectares. During on-site surveys, 138 samples were collected to assess heavy metal content and the agrochemical properties of the soil.

In Kherson region, researchers focused on the de-occupied right-bank areas, covering Beryslav and Kherson districts, and surveyed 263,860 hectares of land. Compared to Mykolaiv region, a significantly higher density of craters was recorded, with greater areas affected by bombturbation and soil compaction. In Kherson, 311,700 craters ranging from 0.5 to 22.4 metres in diameter were identified, with displaced soil amounting to 1.6 million cubic metres. Over 3,400 hectares of land were subjected to bombturbation, and 7,300 hectares were compacted. Nearly 27,000 hectares of soil may be contaminated due to explosions. Researchers collected 90 samples to analyse heavy metal content and agrochemical soil parameters.

In June, the Ukrainian Researchers Society plans to present a monetary assessment of the damage caused to the agricultural sector due to soil loss in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.

The findings will form the basis for determining the ecological potential of the territories, as calculated by the Ministry of Economy and the Centre for Humanitarian Demining, to prioritise areas for humanitarian demining.