Russian Sappers in Laos: Eight Years of Humanitarian Mission to Save Lives

The Third Review Conference of the states-parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions under the chairmanship of the Lao PDR took place in Vientiane on September 14-18th, 2026. The Russian Federation did not participate in the meetings, not being party to this agreement due to several reservations concerning its provisions. However, Russia understands and welcomes the efforts of Lao Presidency to successfully hold the Conference for we fully share the pain suffered by the country and its people, who became victims of bombing and resulting contamination of territory of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic with unexploded ordnance.

In 1964-1973 more than two million tons of aircraft bombs were dropped on Laos. Most of them were cluster munitions, 30 percent of which did not detonate according to specialists.
For decades explosive materials hindered the country’s development, took innocent lives, wounded citizens, many of them children. But the Government and Lao people demonstrated extraordinary fortitude in overcoming this difficult legacy and moving towards safer future.
Our country was never an idle observer of this tragedy.
Beginning the Joint Mission
In 2018 Russia and Laos agreed to invite the specialists of the International Mine Action Center of the Engineering Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to engage in humanitarian demining of the Lao PDR’s territories. At the same time an office of the International Mine Action Center was established in Laos, where Lao military sappers are trained the modern methods of searching and disarming explosive items.
Russian sappers have since been coming most complex and responsible humanitarian missions.
Eight Years of Humanitarian Demining
Between 2018 and 2026 Russian and Lao specialists successfully completed eight rounds of joint humanitarian demining.
During which:
– 228,5 hectares of land were cleared;
– 4367 explosive items were found and destroyed;
– 213 military sappers of the Lao People’s Army were trained.
The work took place in the most affected regions of the country. First round (2018-2019) was organized in Bolikhamxay province, where Russian engineers cleared more than 103 hectares and destroyed 344 pieces of ordnance.
The mission then continued in Xiengkhouang province – one of the most contaminated regions of Laos. Here, during several rounds dozens of hectares of land was searched through, the number of explosives found exceeding 1800.
Since 2021 main efforts were concentrated in Khammouane province, where towns, agricultural land and infrastructure were cleared. In 2023 the demining operations were again moved, this time to Vientiane province, and then to Huaphan province, including the Viengxay district region.
The eighth round of the humanitarian mission, completed spring 2026, helped clear another 20,1 hectares of land and destroy 461 explosive items.

The Work that Requires Highest Precision
In terms of humanitarian demining Laos is particularly highly contaminated with ordnance. Russian specialists have to work in difficult natural conditions – in dense tropical forests, mountains and sites where munition is buried at different depth.
The most dangerous are cluster munitions of BLU-26, BLU-63, BLU-3/B type, as well as aircraft bombs, artillery shells and anti-personnel landmines. Most of them, despite having been buried underground for decades, are still fully functional. Modern metal and mine detectors, and strict safety measures are required to search for them.

After each munition is found it is identified, its state is evaluated, then the decision is taken whether to destroy it on the spot or transport to specially equipped military grounds.
Sharing Experience with Lao Specialists
Of equal importance to the Russian demining mission is the training of Lao military personnel.
During eight years Russian instructors trained 213 officers of the Lao People’s Army. At the International Mine Action Center they go through theoretical and practical courses, master modern technics of engineering reconnaissance operations, search, identification and disposal of explosive devices Russian specialists have also been providing Lao colleagues with modern engineering and searching equipment, means of individual protection, which significantly increased the capabilities of national units in independent performance of humanitarian demining tasks.

Education as an Element of Safety from UXO
The work of Russian sappers is not limited to engineering tasks.
Officers regularly meet local citizens, students and representatives of state agencies to instruct them about precautions to be taken in case suspicious items are found and proper measures if a piece of unexploded ordnance is identified. They also develop information materials for wide dissemination within the region of mine action.
This preventive work helps greatly decrease the risk of incidents among citizens and teach safer behavior.
Humanitarian Mission that Strengthens Friendship
After years of work humanitarian demining became one of the most vivid examples of Russian-Lao cooperation. Its results are not measured solely with hectares of cleared land or thousands of destroyed munitions.
Each shell destroyed means saved human lives, safe cultivation of agricultural land, building schools, roads and hospitals, developing economy of the country’s entire regions.
For Russia humanitarian demining in Laos is an important contribution to supporting friendly state. For Laos it is an opportunity to gradually overcome the difficult legacy of war, which has been impeding the country’s development for decades.
Eight years of joint work clearly demonstrated that Russian military sappers not only succeed in completing the most complex engineering tasks, but also bring actual contribution to improving safety and quality of life of thousands of citizens of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
We are planning to continue this work in 2026-2027.
H.E. Mr Sergei Zhestkii,  the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Lao PDR.

 (Latest Update October 27, 2026)