Ukrainian farmer modifies tractor to clear fields of mines

Oleksandr Kryvtsov’s mine-clearing tractor © Reuters/Vitalii Hnidyi

Ukrainian farmer Oleksandr Kryvtsov has armour-plated one of his tractors using metal scavenged from damaged Russian military vehicles, and is using it to clear mines from arable fields ahead of planting.

The tractor is controlled remotely by an operator sitting high up in a nearby digger bucket (at the top of the picture).

See also: Ukrainian farmer uses tractor to ‘steal’ Russian tank

About 30% of land in Ukraine has been left with mines in the ground laid by Russian forces, according to prime minister Denys Shmyhal.

This has meant many farmers in the affected regions are forced to wait for specialist mine-clearing units to make fields safe before they can get on with planting crops.

Mr Kryvtsov told the Reuters news agency: “We started doing this just because the crop-sowing time has come and we can’t do anything because the rescue services are very busy.”

The mine-clearing tractor, fitted with an old set of rollers at the front to trip the mines, did run over one anti-tank device, and the armour plating was blown off.

But with everyone well clear of the explosion the equipment was able to be restored and repaired, ready for reuse, added Mr Kryvtsov.