Clearing Ukraine’s mines is crucial for global food security, say Howard Buffett and Tony Blair

Landmines have been a problem in Ukraine since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. However, the scale of their deployment increased significantly following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Vast minefields were left behind by Russian troops who advanced and were then forced to retreat, in some of the most productive agricultural soil in the world. The war has also led to the proliferation of other unexploded ordnance, including grenades and cluster munitions, which can retain the ability to detonate for years.