Approximately 30% of our country is potentially dangerous due to explosive objects. Artillery shells, flares, mines, air bombs, detonators pose a threat to life. The cause of most accidents due to the explosion of mines and shells is a gross violation of elementary safety rules: attempts to pick up, move or disassemble an object, hitting it, throwing it into an open fire or into water.

The “Return to Life” charity reminds of safety rules that will help avoid danger and save lives.

What are explosive objects?

Not only different types of mines pose a threat to life, but also other explosive devices and munitions that have not exploded, including:

• small arms ammunition;
• artillery shells;
• aircraft bombs;
• mortar shells;
• cluster munitions;
• grenades;
• fuses;
• fragments of drones and missiles.

All of these objects can function almost like landmines, exploding from movement or touch.

Some munitions also contain motion-sensitive fuses or magnetic sensors, while others may have a self-destruct timer function.

Where explosives can most often be “hidden”

If the territory is currently or has previously been the scene of hostilities, or if it has been the site of shelling, it should be considered dangerous and behave accordingly. The main recommendation for all civilians is to avoid potentially dangerous areas as much as possible.

Explosive objects can be invisible. In the deoccupied territories, mines and booby traps placed by the Russians were found in people’s homes, household items and appliances, in furniture and children’s toys.

And after the shelling of many settlements in Ukraine — from small villages to cities such as Kharkiv — explosive objects were found on the streets and in yards.

Large mined areas of the territories, in particular forests, agricultural lands, etc., are also a special danger zone.

Most mines are installed covertly, so they are rarely seen. They are usually buried within 15 cm of the surface of the earth, placed on the ground, installed on stakes or attached to trees.

If mines are properly laid and camouflaged, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a civilian to detect a mined area. Therefore, it is necessary to find out up-to-date information on demining and the danger of explosive devices in the region after its deoccupation.

Mine safety rules: what not to do

The first and most important rule is not to approach or pick up suspicious objects found. This also applies to children’s toys and gadgets scattered on the ground – these may be camouflaged explosive devices.

Prohibitions and the algorithm of actions when a suspicious object is discovered:

• move away yourself and take people nearby as far as possible (at least 100 m) from the found object;
• it is forbidden to approach an explosive object;

it is forbidden to move it or pick it up;

• you cannot disassemble, throw, hit it;
• if you or people around you were doing any work – stop them immediately;
• you cannot light a fire nearby or throw an object into it;

you cannot use telephones and walkie-talkies – they emit waves that can cause detonation;

• report the discovery of a suspicious object to law enforcement agencies and special services by calling 101 or 102 (the report must be made without haste, clearly, indicating the exact address (landmarks) of the location of the explosive object);

DO NOT bring an explosive object home.