Non-Technical Survey Completed on Over 600 ha in the Chornobaivka Community

The non-technical survey (NTS) of an area exceeding 600 hectares in the Chornobaivka community has been completed.

Based on the survey results, the entire area has been classified as Suspected Hazardous Area and Hazardous Area (SHA/HA). The collected data have been entered into the international information management system IMSMA.

The land is designated for agricultural use; however, in practice it has not been used for a long time. During the survey, long-standing weed overgrowth up to 50 cm in height was recorded. It was also confirmed that the land has not been cultivated since 2022.

“By hazard type, this area is defined as a battlefield. The canal in the Chornobaivka community served as a line of demarcation: Ukrainian positions were on one side, Russian forces on the other. The site itself effectively functioned as a grey buffer zone and was constantly subjected to artillery shelling. The ground is literally riddled with craters from impacts,” said Dmytro Harbuzov, Head of the Non-Technical Survey Team of the UDS Special Demining Operations Department.

During the non-technical survey, both direct and indirect evidence of contamination was recorded. In particular, fragments/debris of explosive remnants of war (ERW) were identified during the survey and on adjacent areas, along with remnants of ammunition and associated items (transport containers, propellant containers, tubes, etc.).

Evidence of contamination recorded includes:

▪️ numerous craters of various diameters;

▪️ traces of fortifications along the canal and adjacent forest belts;

▪️ oral reports from local residents regarding shelling and combat-related events;

▪️ craters and ERW fragments on adjacent plots;

▪️ analysis of nearby known contaminated areas.

Local residents reported that the village of Blahodatne and surrounding lands were subjected to intense shelling from March to November 2022, involving artillery, mortars, tanks, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), and aviation. The settlement was under occupation. Incidents of fires on the site and explosions during burning were also confirmed.

Upon completion of the NTS procedure, the hazardous area was marked by installing pickets indicating the reference point, start point, and turning points.

The activities were carried out within the framework of a Memorandum of Cooperation between UDS and the Chornobaivka Village Council of the Kherson Region.