Ukrainian farmer comes up with novel way to demine his fields

A remote controlled demining machine, created by local farmer Oleksandr Kryvtsov with his tractor and armoured plates from destroyed Russian military vehicles, is seen during demining of an agricultural field, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the village of Hrakove, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Vitalii Hnidyi

HRAKOVE, Ukraine (Reuters) - A Ukrainian farmer has come up with a novel way to remove mines left in his fields after Russia's invasion -- he's kitted out his tractor with protective panels stripped from Russian tanks and operates it by remote control.

After Russian forces were driven back from parts of eastern Ukraine by a Ukrainian counteroffensive last year, mines remained in many fields, making it perilous for farmers to sow grain for the next harvest.