Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine finished a week-long demining operation in the village of Petrivske, Tuesday, November 19, after the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists withdrew from the area.
The demining procedure was overseen by members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, who are aiming to facilitate dialogue among all parties involved in the Ukraine crisis.
The last troop disengagement between Ukrainian and Russian-backed military happened earlier this month as a part of the Minsk agreements.
East of Ukraine is one of the most mine-contaminated areas in the world, according to the United Nations’ humanitarian agency OCHA. Since the conflict began in April 2014, more than 1,000 civilians have been killed or injured by mines and explosive remnants of war. (REUTERS)
