Russian Military To Complete Mine Clearance Tasks In Laos On March 15 - Defense Ministry

Russian mine clearance specialists are set to complete their demining tasks in Laos on March 15 and hand over all equipment and personal protective gear to their Lao partners, the Russian Defense Ministry said

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th March, 2019) Russian mine clearance specialists are set to complete their demining tasks in Laos on March 15 and hand over all equipment and personal protective gear to their Lao partners, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The Russian military personnel will carry out their last mine clearance tasks on March 13, the ministry said in a statement.

"On March 15, a solemn ceremony dedicated to the completion of the Russian military's tasks in Laos, which will be attended by representatives of the senior staff of the Lao Defense Ministry, will be held," the ministry added.

The Russian military's mine clearance operation in Laos was launched in October 2018 and is aimed at helping the Lao People's Armed Forces clear the country's territory of bombs dropped by the United States during the Vietnam War in 1964-1973 on the arms supply routes of what was then North Vietnam. An estimated 260 million bombs were dropped by US aircraft during the war.�

Over the course of their five-month operation, Russian specialists cleared around 100 hectares (247 acres) of land and located more than 300 explosive devices.