Protect Families in Ukraine

Baryshivka is a small territory in the Kyiv region that contains nineteen villages. Baryshivka is located thirty-one miles from the capital of Kyiv. Around 28,000 people lived in Baryshivka before the invasion. Most of these people were farmers, whose prosperous lives were torn apart at the start of the war.

Fierce battles raged in Baryshivka for about a month. Almost every single village was heavily shelled. “This means that who-knows-what can be scattered almost everywhere,” Evhen Sviatiuk, the deputy head of Baryshivka, remarked.

Retreating Russian troops left behind anti-vehicle mines and unexploded shells on the roads. When the Kyiv region was liberated, locals returned to their homes. They wished to restore their lives as quickly as possible. But they faced a massive new challenge: the threat of explosive ordnance contamination.

“In Autumn 2022, one of the farmers entered a tree line near Peremoha village,” Sviatuk says, referring one of Baryshivka’s 19 villages. “He drove over an anti-vehicle mine, and an explosion occurred. Thank God, the man survived, but this incident terrified people from the village so much that they still remember and discuss it,” Sviatiuk narrates.

Not knowing if a farmer will come back from his field or if a child from the playground sadly became a reality for the residents of Baryshivka. Accidents related to explosive ordnance continue to add to the tragic statistics of local losses caused by the invasion. Residents of Baryshivka are forced to live in constant fear and danger.

HALO’s teams identified twelve contaminated areas in Baryshivka. Deminers have already made great progress. In October 2023, HALO handed over the first four of these tasks back to the community, and in December, another two were given back to the community. After ten months of clearance work, on the 11th of December, HALO handed over two areas back to the community. This land was cleared of 102 items of dangerous explosives and is now safe to use.

HALO’s work is continuing its work in Baryshivka. Survey teams are identifying new areas and deminers are clearing more ground and finding new items of explosive ordnance. By clearing Baryshivka, HALO is ensuring the safe return of residents.

At the second task handover, Sviatiuk reflected, “The explosive items deminers help to remove from the ground will add more confidence to the people in springtime when the sowing begins. It is very important that territories are being cleared, that this noble work is free for us, that people feel much more confident on their land, and that their stable life is returning.”

Thank you for your continued support, which is allowing the residents of Baryshivka to safely return home.