A group of Ukrainian officials have observed Japanese technology for remote-controlling construction machinery with the aim of utilizing it to clear unexploded bombs and land mines abandoned amid Russia's invasion.

The 10-person delegation, consisting of officials of the Ukrainian government and municipalities, visited a facility of the land ministry in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Tuesday.

The officials say they hope to learn about the technologies that have helped Japan's reconstruction efforts following natural disasters. The Japanese government extended the invitation to the delegation in advance of the Group of Seven nations' summit meeting in Hiroshima.

At the facility, they tested a device that can control excavators and other heavy machinery remotely. The device can be used by installing cameras and transmitters on construction machinery.

The ministry and the private sector developed the device to clear debris in hazardous areas where workers could not enter. The development began after a pyroclastic flow at Mount Unzen's Fugen Peak in Nagasaki Prefecture caused heavy damage and casualties in 1991.

The Kyiv School of Economics estimates that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused damage totaling 143.8 billion dollars as of the end of February. The Ukrainian government says that unexploded bombs and land mines remain abandoned in about a quarter of the country's territory.

An official of the Ukrainian government said the remote-control technology can be used in reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. The official said Japan has extensive experience in recovering from natural disasters, and expressed hope to enhance cooperation with the nation in various fields such as construction, transportation and energy.