Demine Ukraine Forum: Advancing humanitarian demining capabilities in 2024
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Ukraine has significantly enhanced its demining capabilities over the past year, increasing the number of mine action operators and demining machines severalfold. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal shared the news of this progress during the second Demine Ukraine Forum, held on 2 December in Kyiv. As 2024 comes to a close, government and private operators are already equipped with 151 demining machines, and the number of sappers has grown to over 4,000.
"We’re grateful to all our partners for providing demining machines, whose numbers continue to grow," Shmyhal said at the opening of the forum. "At the same time, we want to emphasize localization and the development of Ukrainian production: Ukrainian-made equipment, along with machines produced by foreign companies in Ukraine, is already operating in the fields, showing excellent results. We urge partners who wish to support us with equipment to order new machines from Ukrainian manufacturers. This will provide double assistance: both to our economy and our security."
Another major achievement this year was the opening of the humanitarian demining market, enabling the involvement of private mine action operators. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko highlighted this milestone while summarizing the sector’s annual progress.
"To support farmers, we introduced a mechanism for compensating the cost of demining services, covering 100% of these expenses," Svyrydenko said. "So far, 31 auctions have been conducted on the Prozorro platform, resulting in agreements worth nearly half a billion hryvnias. Initial prices dropped by over 17%, saving approximately UAH 92 million. This programme will continue next year, with a budget of UAH 1 billion UAH allocated".
One of the government’s and Ministry of Economy’s key priorities is to foster innovation in humanitarian demining. Technologies such as drones equipped with mine detection sensors could become game-changers in the field, Svyrydenko believes. Therefore, the ministry will work on increasing grants for innovators in the coming year.
Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, highlighted that innovative technologies are not only transforming the approach to mine action in Ukraine, but are also creating a unique experience that can serve as an example for the entire world.
"UNDP in Ukraine, together with its partners, will continue to strengthen the potential of such innovations, particularly those developed locally, to ensure safety in all communities and to create the conditions necessary for people to return to their homes," Cilliers said. "The goal is to make every square meter of Ukrainian land safe for living, working, and development."
The forum attracted over 350 participants, including government representatives, international organizations, businesses, NGOs, and demining experts. Its panel discussions focused on the economic impact of demining, technologies and innovations in mine action, and the production of demining equipment, among other topics.
A recording of each forum panel is available via this link.
Partners of the Demine Ukraine Forum included the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, PUMB, Kyivstar, Uklon, Starlight Media, the American Chamber of Commerce, and the European Business Association.
