The State Emergency Service of Ukraine has partnered with the developers of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and creative agency Rockets. Growth R&D to launch a public awareness campaign on mine safety that has quickly gone viral online.
According to the United Nations, Ukraine is currently the most mined country in the world. Around 139,000 square kilometres — 23% of the country’s territory — remain potentially dangerous. Millions of explosive devices have been scattered since Russia’s full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, and full clearance is expected to take decades.
A UNICEF study shows that 53% of Ukrainian teenagers tend to engage in risky behaviour despite being aware of the dangers posed by mines. Boys aged 14–17 are considered the most vulnerable group, as they spend more time outdoors exploring unfamiliar and potentially hazardous areas.
The campaign, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: The Hidden Threat, integrates the issue of mine danger into the game’s virtual environment, familiar to young audiences. The game is set in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone — an area that in reality was temporarily occupied and heavily mined — making it an appropriate setting to demonstrate safe behaviour in hazardous conditions.
The State Emergency Service urges parents, teachers and community leaders to share information about safe behaviour around explosive devices and support initiatives aimed at saving lives.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, developed by Ukrainian studio GSC Game World, is a next-generation sequel set in a post-apocalyptic Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and has received strong international attention and positive reviews for its atmosphere and world design.
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