De-mining vehicle blows up in Chechnya, nobody suffered

On October 11, a special vehicle named "Hydrema" and designed for de-mining tripped over a mine and blew up in the Grozny District of Chechnya during clearing arable land from explosive devices. Experts say that this was the first incident of this sort that occurred with this machinery. Two sappers inside the vehicle were not injured.

The "Hydrema" was used by sappers of the "Leader" Centre of the Russian Ministry for Emergencies (MfE) for de-mining agricultural lands of the "Zarya" State Farm. The vehicle was damaged by the explosion; it was the only one of this sort at disposal of the Russia's MfE. "This is a unique technology, which virtually has no prototypes. It is designed for remote detection and destruction of explosive objects. According to experts, now the 'Hydrema' needs some repairs, and then it can be used again," said a source from the "Leader" Centre.

Since mid-September until today the specialists of the Centre have cleared 39 hectares of farmland of "Zarya" Farm from mines and shells, having neutralized and defused 127 explosive objects. As reported on October 11 by the local MfE, the de-mining work in the "Zarya" is over, and now specialists of the "Leader" have moved to the "Yubileiny" State Farm with the same mission. The 38 de-miners of the "Leader" will stay in Chechnya until October 26.