Demining missions in 2020: Over 2,500 explosive objects, liquidated by military engineers

CHISINAU, January 5, 2021 - More than 2,500 explosive objects were detected and neutralized by National Army engineers in 2020.

According to the senior officer of National Army Engineer Service, Captain Ivan Cornegruta, the largest demining mission was carried out between April and June in Baltati village, Tipala commune, Ialoveni district.

The operation, which started at the request of local authorities, after two children were seriously injured as a result of the explosion of an unidentified object found in the region, therefore involved 16 military from the "Codru" Genius Battalion.

As a result of researching 46 hectares of forest near the town, military engineers found more than 1,260 explosives of various calibers, including artillery shells, grenade launchers, hand grenades, anti-tank mines, warheads, cartridges.

All ammunition was from the Second World War and was destroyed in maximum safety.

The source added that at the same time, the village of Plop Stiubei in Causeni district was in 2020 the locality with the highest number of deminations. In the region, the military detected and liquidated 306 rounds of ammunition, including grenade launchers, hand grenades, anti-tank mines and artillery shells.

At the same time, during that period, among the munitions with the highest explosive charge were four aviation bombs of 50 kg and, respectively, 100 kg, found in the districts of Anenii Noi and Stefan Voda.

It should be mentioned that in total, last year, the engineers of the National Army performed 282 demining missions in the localities from the districts of Stefan Voda, Ialoveni, Causeni, Cimislia, Floresti, Ungheni, Anenii Noi, Balti and Chisinau municipalities.