Themes by tag: demining

For 12 years, Viktoriia Zakharenkova worked in a jewelry factory in Kramatorsk, Donetsk oblast, making wax models for future gold ornaments. But when russia launched its full-scale invasion, her hometown became too dangerous to stay in. Forced to flee with her son, she set out on a new path. Viktoriia underwent training with the HALO Trust and has been working as a deminer for almost three years.

Journalists can speak with Viktoriia in Kyiv oblast by prior arrangement.

Background: The HALO Trust is the world’s largest humanitarian demining organization, with 35 years of experience removing landmines and unexploded ordnance in 30 countries and territories worldwide.

• women
• Kyiv
• demining

On May 1, the Media Center Ukraine will hold a briefing “How the State Emergency Service of Ukraine is demining Ukraine: equipment, personnel, innovations, and global aid”.

Participants:

– Serhii Reva, Head of the Department for Organizational Work on Humanitarian Demining at the Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.

Key topics:

– Progress and scope of demining operations: What has been accomplished by SES explosive ordnance disposal teams? 

– Which countries supply the most equipment and machinery for explosive ordnance clearance, and how does this support enhance the operational capacity of the SES?

– What is the current status of water bodies affected by unexploded ordnance? 

– Does the SES have a sufficient number of pyrotechnic specialists, and what are the current staffing levels? 

– What new technologies and methods are being employed in SES demining efforts?

• Kyiv
• demining

On April 23, the Media Center Ukraine in Kyiv will host a presentation of an awareness campaign for farmers on the state mine action compensation program

Participants:

– Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine;

– Volodymyr Baida, Director of the Center for Humanitarian Demining;

– Maria Gutsman, Team Leader for the Inclusive Development, Recovery, and Peacebuilding (IDRPB) at UNDP Ukraine

– Oleh Khomenko, General Director of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club;

– Leonid Kozachenko, President of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation.

For reference: Since the beginning of the year, farmers have submitted 225 applications to participate in the state compensation program for the demining of agricultural land. Of these, 189 were rejected by the Humanitarian Demining Center for failing to meet legal requirements. 

As of mid-April, 13 auctions have been conducted, resulting in nearly UAH 291 million allocated for the clearance of 4,300 hectares of farmland. The program’s total budget stands at UAH 3 billion, and the Ministry of Economy aims to clear as much agricultural land as possible within these funding limits.

• Kyiv
• demining

On March 27, the Media Center Ukraine will host a briefing “Demining-2025: Challenges and Achievements”.

Participants:

– Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine

Key topics:

– Ukraine’s demining achievements by 2025;

– Compensation program for farmers: progress and updates;

– Land prioritization: pilot project update;

– State capabilities and innovations in demining.

• Kyiv
• demining

Before russia’s large-scale aggression against Ukraine broke out, 38-year-old Artem Kostiuk worked as a gas boiler operator and ran a power tool sales and repair shop in Sloviansk. Even as the front line drew dangerously close, he remained at his post, ensuring people had heat until the very last moment. But when a russian missile leveled his store, he knew it was time for a drastic change.

In November 2024, Artem became the head of HALO Ukraine’s mine clearance team in the Kyiv region. His wife, Maryna, also joined the effort. Today, he continues his work in the Chernihiv region, clearing explosives left behind by the war.

Artem says his years in the boiler room prepared him for this high-stakes responsibility. “One mistake could have left 20,000 to 30,000 people without heat. Explosive ordnance disposal is different, but the core responsibility is the same—people’s lives and well-being depend on me. Every day, I’m responsible for the safety of my team and Ukrainians as a whole.”

For reference: Journalists can interview Artem in the Chernihiv region by prior arrangement.

The HALO Trust is the world’s largest international nonprofit dedicated to clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance. For 35 years, it has operated in 30 countries and territories.

By April 6, 2022, Ukrainian forces had fully liberated the Chernihiv region from russian occupation.

• Chernihiv
• demining

Back in 2020, while still a student, Alina Streltsova saw bomb disposal experts from The HALO Trust Ukraine training on the outskirts of her hometown of Kramatorsk. That moment sparked her interest, and she decided to see if this line of work was right for her.

Alina went on to join HALO’s team in the Kharkiv region—first as an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialist, then as an explosive hazard awareness instructor, and later as a quality control specialist. Today, both her father and husband serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, while Alina remains fully committed to clearing explosive hazards from Ukrainian soil. Her primary responsibility now is ensuring that all landmines clearance operations comply with strict safety protocols, protecting her colleagues from potential dangers.

Journalists can interview Alina in the Kharkiv region by prior arrangement.

Background: The HALO Trust is the largest international nonprofit organization dedicated to clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance. For the past 35 years, it has been operating in 30 countries and territories around the world.

• women
• Kharkiv
• demining

Since 2006, Tymur Pistriuha has taken part in peacekeeping missions across Africa. In Ukraine, he founded the Ukrainian Deminers Association (UDA), launching demining training for both military personnel and civilians in 2018. That same year, the organization began mine clearance operations in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

With the full-scale invasion, demand for explosive ordnance disposal specialists surged. In response, Tymur expanded the initiative, increasing the number of trained specialists. However, in January 2025, the NGO lost its grant funding from the U.S. State Department. It wasn’t the first time Canadian organizations stepped in to provide support, but now, the founder is actively seeking new partners to sustain operations.

Tymur Pistriuha and his team are available for interviews both online and in person by prior arrangement. Journalists may also observe demining training sessions upon request.

• demining

On December 12-13, a two-day training session will be held in the Kyiv region for veterans with disabilities. Participants will be introduced to the GCS-200 remote-controlled mechanical demining platform with dedicated attachments and observe its operation. Additionally, the course includes practical exercises. The knowledge gained during the training will be beneficial for future employment opportunities.

The practical exercises are part of a course conducted by UNDP in Ukraine in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and with financial support from the Government of Sweden. The initiative aims to enhance employment opportunities for veterans with disabilities by promoting their engagement in humanitarian demining activities. This is one of many initiatives supporting Ukraine’s efforts to clear mines and other explosive remnants of war.

Journalists are welcome to cover the training event by prior arrangement. Accreditation is required to attend.

Background Information: The training is organized by GCS Ukraine LLC in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine.

GCS specializes in eliminating explosive threats and restoring safe environments. Combining innovative, proven technologies with field expertise, the company removes landmines and other explosive remnants of war. GCS is an independent company headquartered in Switzerland, with engineering and manufacturing facilities in Germany and regional offices worldwide.

• Kyiv
• demining

Is humanitarian mine action possible in winter? How do snow and freezing temperatures affect the painstaking work of removing deadly explosives? These are the questions many are asking as winter sets in.  

Deminers face extreme challenges in cold weather, but the work doesn’t stop when the first snow falls. Can mines be detected beneath a blanket of snow? How do teams stay warm during long hours in the field? And is it true that some even heat the frozen ground to continue clearing land?  

Journalists now have the chance to witness these operations firsthand. Media visits can be arranged to key regions where HALO Ukraine is actively working, including Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Kherson.  

For context: HALO Ukraine is part of The HALO Trust, the world’s largest non-governmental organization dedicated to humanitarian demining. Since russia’s full-scale invasion, they’ve cleared over 6 million square meters of land, ensuring safer ground for thousands of Ukrainians.

• Chernihiv
• Kharkiv
• Kherson
• Kyiv
• Mykolaiv
• demining

Recently, five combatants, including veterans who lost limbs, joined the Ukrainian program of The HALO Trust, the world’s largest non-governmental, non-profit humanitarian demining organization. The soldiers, who defended their country on the front lines, will now work on a remote sensing team, analyzing drone imagery to identify potentially dangerous areas and explosive hazards.

By prior arrangement, journalists can cover the veterans’ work in the Kharkiv and Kyiv regions. 

Background: The HALO Trust is the world’s largest international nonprofit organization specializing in mine clearance and ammunition disposal, with 35 years of experience in 30 countries and territories worldwide.

• military
• Kharkiv
• Kyiv
• demining