Ukraine increases the rate of demining of agricultural lands

Since the beginning of the current year, governmental and non-governmental mine action operators have surveyed more than 115,000 hectares of agricultural land in Ukraine and returned 108,000 hectares to economic exploitation. Only in April, the pyrotechnic units surveyed almost 35,000 hectares of agricultural land. The average rates of examination exceed last year's. If in 2023, on average, 22.8 thousand hectares of agricultural land were inspected by pyrotechnicians per month, then according to the results of four months of 2024, the average figure was 28.75 thousand hectares per month.

The opening of the market for humanitarian demining will facilitate the acceleration of land clearance. This year, UAH 3 billion has been allocated to compensate farmers who will buy demining services on the market.

It should be noted that during 2022-2027, international partners will provide $700 million for the humanitarian demining of lands in Ukraine. The key donors are Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the USA. Partners provide financial support for demining, and also attract the best technologies, practices and specialists in the specified field to Ukraine. In general, the Government is working on strengthening the coordination of mine action activities with the professional and international community. It is planned to ensure coordination through the Sectoral Working Group, which unites donors of Ukraine and the mine action cluster. The latter was restored in 2024 and serves as a platform for program coordination of the involved entities.

It should be noted that currently a quarter of Ukrainian land remains contaminated by mines and other explosive objects. The state register of mine-contaminated territories of Ukraine is currently being prepared for launch. The Ministry of Internal Affairs transmits information on landmine contamination to the Center for Humanitarian Demining.

In addition, in Ukraine, 33 operators of anti-mine activity were certified, which will help farmers to return agricultural land to cultivation.