Ukrainian Teen Invents a Life-Saving, Explosive-Detecting Drone

A Ukrainian teenager, while sheltering from Russian attacks, invented a drone that can detect land mines.

Unexploded land mines are a worldwide threat to both soldiers and civilians – in 2020, 7,073 people were killed or injured due to explosive mines. Igor Klymenko – a senior in high school at the time – worked with scientists and programmers to complete the development of his Quadcopter Mines Detector; today, he has two working prototypes and two Ukrainian patents.

“In times of crisis, we need innovation and resilience to help overcome unimaginable adversity, and Igor’s commitment to tackling the global land mine problem is truly inspirational,” says Dan Rosensweig, president and CEO of Chegg.

Klymenko was recently awarded $100,000 from the Chegg.org Global Student Prize due to his positive impact on society. “I think it can not only save lives, but also I can inspire students […] because it can change the world,” says Igor Kylmenko.