Themes by tag: demining
A new free-of-charge training programme, “Humanitarian Demining Sapper,” will begin in Kyiv on July 20.
The programme is open to family members of veterans, currently serving military personnel, prisoners of war, those missing in action, and fallen Ukrainian defenders.
Participants will gain the knowledge and practical skills required to work in humanitarian demining. The programme covers mine safety, explosive ordnance identification, non-technical land survey methods, the use of specialized equipment, UAV operations, and international safety standards. Much of the course focuses on practical training in controlled conditions.
The programme lasts 10 weeks. Upon successful completion, participants receive a state-issued certificate awarding the qualification of “Sapper (Demining).” More than 40 veterans have already completed the programme.
By prior arrangement, journalists are welcome to attend practical training sessions in Kyiv and report on the programme.
Background: The programme was initiated and is organized by the Unconquered Foundation, founded by veteran Ihor Bezkaravainyi and psychologist Olena Vyshnevetska. The foundation works in three key areas: professional retraining for veterans, psychological support, and recovery through adaptive sports.
The project is implemented by the Unconquered Foundation with financial support from the Republic of Korea through ITF Enhancing Human Security.
HALO Ukraine has invited journalists to the opening of the “Women in Demining” photo exhibition, which will take place on June 3 at one of Kharkiv’s metro stations.
The exhibition features 29 portraits of women working in humanitarian demining, including deminers, underwater deminers and drone operators. Each photograph tells a unique story. Danger and risk, overcoming daily challenges, dedication and responsibility are shaping a new professional force of women in humanitarian demining.
During the presentation, female deminers will share their experiences, speak about their professional journeys, difficult decisions, fears and motivation, and explain what gives them the strength to continue their work every day.
Representatives of the Kharkiv city authorities, HALO Ukraine, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service and the National Police of Ukraine will also take part in the opening event.
Throughout the day, the HALO Ukraine team will introduce visitors to the basic rules of mine safety.
Media accreditation for the opening of the exhibition is mandatory until 2:00 p.m. on June 2, 2026.
Background: The project is supported by Global Affairs Canada and Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture.
HALO Ukraine is the Ukrainian programme of The HALO Trust, the world’s largest non-governmental non-profit organization specializing in humanitarian demining. The organization has been clearing mines and unexploded ordnance in 30 countries over the past 38 years.
HALO Ukraine has operated in eastern Ukraine since 2016. Its mission is to save lives and return land to communities. Following russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the team expanded its operations and now clears land in six regions: Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv and Kherson. The Ukrainian team employs nearly 1,400 people, 30% of whom are women.
Participants:
– Ihor Bezkaravaynyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine;
– Volodymyr Baida, Director of the Center for Humanitarian Demining.
Topics for discussion:
– Scaling Ukraine’s humanitarian demining experience globally, and what practices Ukraine can adopt;
– Processing and disposal of explosive ordnance: is this relevant for Ukraine now?
– What initiatives is the Center implementing regarding the disposal of explosive ordnance?
HALO Ukraine deminers are currently working in the deoccupied territories of Kyiv and Chernihiv regions.
By prior arrangement, journalists can cover their work and learn about the challenges these specialists face. And, if possible, talk to people who changed their professions and went into demining with the start of the full-scale invasion.
For reference: HALO Ukraine is the Ukrainian program of The HALO Trust, the world’s largest non-governmental non-profit organization for humanitarian demining. The HALO Trust has been clearing mines and explosive ordnance in 30 countries around the world for the past 38 years.
HALO Ukraine has been operating in eastern Ukraine since 2016. Its goal is to save lives, return land to communities, and move the country forward on the path to recovery. After russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the team expanded its activities and is now clearing land in six regions: Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Kherson. The Ukrainian team employs nearly 1,400 people, 30% of whom are women.
April 4 is International Mine Awareness Day.
As a reminder, on April 2, 2022, the Kyiv region was liberated from the occupiers. Also in April 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated the Chernihiv region from russian invaders.
In the fall of 2025, the first intake for the veterans’ course “Sapper in humanitarian demining” took place. The initiative aims to provide veterans with the opportunity to master a new, in-demand profession in the field of humanitarian demining, support their social reintegration, employment, and involvement in Ukraine’s recovery.
The training takes place in Kyiv. As part of the course, participants acquire theoretical knowledge and practical skills in humanitarian demining, including mine safety basics, identification of explosive ordnance, land survey procedures, work with specialized equipment, and compliance with international safety standards. A significant portion of the program is dedicated to practical exercises in controlled conditions.
Twenty veterans successfully completed the first course. Enrollment for the second course is now open, with the start scheduled for mid-March.
By prior arrangement, journalists may cover the training in Kyiv.
Background: The initiator and organizer of the training is the charitable organization “Unconquered Foundation,” founded by veteran Ihor Bezkaravainyi and psychologist Olena Vyshnevetska. The foundation operates in three areas: professional retraining of veterans, psychological support, and recovery through adaptive sports.
The humanitarian demining training is implemented with financial support from the Republic of Slovenia.
HALO Ukraine invites the public to the opening of the photo exhibition “Women in Demining.” The event will begin on February 20 at one of the metro stations in Kyiv.
Twenty-nine photographs portray women in demining roles — a deminer, a diver-sapper, a drone operator. Each image tells a unique story. Twenty-two-year-old Diana Obzhelian studied Chinese at a Kyiv university and planned to become a translator. However, the full-scale invasion changed her plans: she switched to distance learning and joined HALO Ukraine as a deminer. Twenty-five-year-old Tetiana Mordach is the first and only female diver-sapper in Ukraine. Before the full-scale war, she worked as a rescue diver, and after the invasion began, she became a diver-sapper with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
The women featured in the exhibition will share their experiences, speak about their journeys, difficult decisions, fears, and motivations, as well as what gives them the strength to go to work every day.
At the opening, welcome remarks will be delivered by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Ukraine, Natalka Cmoc; HALO Ukraine Operations Manager Misha Iltsisin; and representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine, and the Kyiv Metro.
Throughout the day, the HALO Ukraine team will also introduce visitors to the basic rules of mine safety. The training will take place in an interactive format.
Journalists are required to register for the event by 09:00 on February 20, 2026.
For reference: The project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada and the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. Other partners include Demine Ukraine, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine, MAG, FSD, UDA, NPA, and UNOPS.
HALO Ukraine is the Ukrainian program of The HALO Trust, the world’s largest international humanitarian mine clearance organization. The HALO Trust has been clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance in 30 countries over the past 38 years.
HALO Ukraine has been operating in eastern Ukraine since 2016. Its mission is to save lives, return land to communities, and help move the country forward on its path to recovery. Following the full-scale invasion by russia in February 2022, the team expanded its activities and now clears land in six regions — Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Kherson. Nearly 1,400 people work in the Ukrainian team, 30% of whom are women specialists.
On January 14, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, working closely with the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine and the national mine action platform Demine Ukraine, will launch a countrywide public information campaign to highlight humanitarian demining as a key national priority.
The campaign opens with the debut of an interactive installation titled “The Earth – a Carrier of Memory,” featuring audiovisual narratives that symbolize the safe return of cleared lands to communities. The installation will be unveiled at the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater, renowned for its production of “The Land,” adapted from Olha Kobylianska’s novel and directed by David Petrosyan.
Invited speakers at the launch event include:
– Auke Lootsma, UNDP Resident Representative to Ukraine.
– Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine;
– Yevhen Nyshchuk, General Director and Artistic Director of the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater.
Journalists wishing to attend must complete accreditation by 4 p.m. on January 13, and should bring a passport or national ID along with an editorial certificate from their outlet.
For reference: The initiative is carried out by the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine, with financial backing from the Ukraine Community Recovery Fund. More details on the effort are available on the UNDP website.
41-year-old Oleh Semennikov is a Robocut operator for HALO Ukraine and a member of its Gender Working Group. He was born and lives in Kharkiv. He first learned about HALO from a billboard in the metro. Intrigued by the organization’s mission, he joined the team as a deminer in June 2024.
In August of that year, Oleh completed paramedic courses and continued working as a deminer-paramedic. In December, he became a certified Robocut operator and began working with the mechanical demining team.
“The gratitude of the residents near our work sites is very motivating. You realize it’s not abstract—it’s a tangible benefit to the community,” Oleh shared.
Oleh joined the Gender Working Group after attending training sessions conducted by the Divchata NGO.
“I was surprised by how many gender stereotypes still exist in society and in the demining sector. I want to share knowledge about equality and promote tolerance towards everyone,” Oleh notes.
Oleh Semennikov is available for interviews in the Kharkiv oblast, by prior arrangement.
Background: The HALO Trust is the world’s largest non-profit, non-governmental humanitarian demining organization.
The Robocut T800 is a mechanized platform that speeds up the demining of Ukrainian land. Its task is to clear vegetation, level the ground, and prepare the area for manual demining. The Robocut can operate on difficult terrain and in various weather conditions. Most importantly, it reduces risk to people.
Before the full-scale invasion, Ihor Yefimenko’s Kharkiv-based company was engaged in vehicle repair. However, after February 24, 2022, his team pivoted and began producing Level 5 body armor for the military. After a relative lost toes due to an explosion caused by a landmine, Yefimenko realized that his team needed to develop protective gear for sappers and explosive ordnance disposal technicians.
They used a Canadian model as a base, adapted it to the needs of Ukrainian soldiers and rescuers, and began production. In 2025, the manufacturers obtained a patent for a system that protects legs from anti-personnel blast mines. The product now holds all NATO standard certifications and has intellectual property protection. Yefimenko assures that the Canadian prototype was further refined and that the Kharkiv version differs in design elements and materials.
Each boot weighs four kilograms, and the team uses 3D printers to manufacture the components. Yefimenko explains that the boots are not a panacea; they cannot prevent injury entirely, but they help users avoid traumatic amputation.
Ihor Yefimenko is available for interviews online or in person in Kharkiv, by prior arrangement.
One of the Danish Refugee Council’s (DRC) key missions in Ukraine is conducting civilian humanitarian operations of non-technical surveys and clearing explosive ordnance. The organization also trains State Emergency Service of Ukraine specialists and educates civilians on how to identify dangerous devices.
On September 4, 2025, a DRC team came under rocket fire while conducting purely civilian humanitarian activities – working to clear landmines and explosive remnants of war to protect communities and enable safe access to essential infrastructure, farmland, and homes. The attack killed two deminers and left eight others injured.
The Danish Refugee Council has reaffirmed its commitment to its mission. Despite the risks and challenges, our demining teams undertake this vital work to prevent further loss of life from landmines and unexploded ordnance.
The DRC team is available for conversations online and in person by appointment.
