Vast areas of Ukraine contaminated with mines, says Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President calls Russian invasion an 'ecocide' during an address to New Zealand's Parliament

'As of now, 174,000 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory are contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance,' Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told New Zealand politicians. EPA

Long-term help is required to clear Ukraine of mines and other unexploded ordinance covering an area roughly the size of Cambodia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday.

Mr Zelenskyy described Russia's nearly year-long invasion as an “ecocide” that would have lasting effects, and he implored New Zealand and others to step up aid during a video address to the country's parliament.

“As of now, 174,000 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory are contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance,” Mr Zelenskyy told politicians.

That is an area roughly the size of Cambodia, Syria or Uruguay.

Mr Zelenskyy urged New Zealand — whose military has extensive experience in mine clearing — to help lead the clean-up effort.

“There is no real peace for any child who can die from a hidden Russian anti-personnel [mine],” he said.

Ukraine war latest — in pictures

The coffin of Valeriy Krasnyan is brought out of St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv. Getty Images

Repairmen work near a residential building damaged following a missile attack in Vyshgorod, outside of Kyiv. AFP

An elderly man walks in front of a residential building damaged following a missile attack in Vyshgorod. AFP

A boy kisses a dog while he charges his phone at the heating tent dubbed a Point of Invincibly in Bucha, Ukraine. AP

A couple uses a laptop in the heating tent. AP

Workers dig out a tire from the rubble of a destroyed storage building at a grain processing center so they can use it for repairs in Siversk, Donetsk region. Reuters

The Chernihiv region found itself on the frontline of Russia's invasion in February, when Moscow's forces were attempting to quickly seize Kyiv. Getty

Russia ultimately retreated from northern Ukraine to focus its attack on the east and south. Getty

The city of Chernihiv on November 28, 2022 in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Getty

A worker fits in new windows of a building in Chernihiv. Getty

People receive food from AFAT - Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency in Chernihiv. Getty

The people Chernihiv queue up for hot food. Getty

Oleksandr Antonenko stands on a balcony of his apartment damaged by a recent Russian military strike in Kherson. Reuters

Mr Antonenko and his mother Liudmyla inside their apartment recently damaged by a Russian military strike in Kherson. Reuters

A woman walks in an underpass in Kyiv, on November 26, 2022. AFP

Friends hug after the arrival of a train in the southern city of Kherson. Getty

Residents sort through donated clothing at an aid centre in Kherson. Getty

A Ukrainian soldier stands with a machinegun near Liman in the Donetsk region. AP

Children attend a physical education class at Spilno School in Kyiv. Getty

A woman embraces her friend, a soldier in the Ukrainian army, in Kherson. AFP

Residents inspect a crater left by a Russian military strike in the village of Komyshuvakha in the Zaporizhzhia region. Reuters

Resident Tetiana Reznychenko walks past a work by world-renowned graffiti artist Banksy, on the wall of a destroyed building in the Ukrainian village of Horenka. Reuters

Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery at Russian positions near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. AP

A fisherman sails his boat on the Dnipro as black smoke rises from an oil reserve in Kherson. AFP

He added that both the Black Sea and the neighbouring Sea of Azov are also littered with mines “and have lost hundreds of thousands of living creatures, those who died as the result of the hostilities”.

The Ukrainian leader has addressed dozens of foreign parliaments over the past 10 months, seeking to sustain and strengthen a global coalition in support of Ukraine's defence efforts.

New Zealand has so far supplied modest amounts of equipment and military training for Ukraine's war effort.

Wellington has sent more than 100 military trainers to Europe to give Ukraine's armed forces advice on soldiering and infantry fighting.

Ukraine becomes dark patch in night satellite images — in pictures

A satellite image showing the night radiance of Europe from space on November 23 shows Ukraine in almost total darkness. Photo: Nasa

People walking in the dark city centre of Kyiv which lost electrical power after Russian rocket attacks. AP

A man using a head torch to make his way around Kyiv. AP

An unlit street following missile strikes in Kyiv. Getty Images

People charge their devices using a power generator in Kyiv. EPA

Since October, Russia has launched regular strikes on the Ukrainian power grid. AP

People sit in candlelight in Lviv. Reuters

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern indicated New Zealand would be willing to help with the clean-up effort and in rebuilding the country.

“We are with you as you seek peace, but we will also be with you as you rebuild,” Ms Ardern said.

New Zealand's government on Wednesday pledged a further $2 million in humanitarian aid to help Ukraine through the winter.

It also highlighted sanctions imposed a day earlier on Iran — which has provided Russia with scores of drones that have attacked Ukrainian towns and infrastructure.