Prince Harry pilots AI drone and observes R-BOT mine clearance in Ukraine
Updated
Updated · halotrust.org · Apr 24
Prince Harry pilots AI drone and observes R-BOT mine clearance in Ukraine
8 articles · Updated · halotrust.org · Apr 24
Near Bucha, Prince Harry joined HALO deminers, piloting an AI-powered drone and viewing R-BOT unmanned ground vehicle demonstrations on April 24.
These technologies accelerate mapping and removal of explosives, enabling HALO to confirm 29,000 sq km safe and destroy over 60,000 explosive items since 2022.
Ukraine remains heavily mined due to ongoing conflict, but advanced tools are reducing risks, restoring land, and helping families and farmers reclaim their communities more safely and quickly.
AI finds mines ten times faster, but when can Ukrainian farmers truly reclaim their fields safely?
Croatia took 30 years to clear its mines. Can technology help Ukraine do it in one decade?
Beyond the royal visit, who will fund the massive long-term cost of this tech-driven demining?
Could the AI that clears mines also be used to create deadlier, undetectable minefields?
Is focusing on high-tech solutions distracting from the global political failure to ban landmines?
Clearing 132,000 km² of Landmines: How AI and Robots Are Revolutionizing Ukraine’s Mine Crisis
Overview
In April 2026, Prince Harry visited Ukraine to highlight the severe landmine crisis caused by the 2022 conflict, especially in areas like Bucha, where Russian occupation left deadly unexploded ordnance. During his visit, he witnessed advanced AI-powered drones and remote-controlled robots that accelerate and make demining safer. Supported by a historic $33 million donation from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the HALO Trust has expanded operations, enabling faster clearance and returning contaminated land to communities. This effort continues the humanitarian legacy of Princess Diana and underscores the urgent need for international cooperation, innovative technology, and sustained funding to reclaim Ukraine's land and support displaced people.