Ukraine proposes to create a state structure to coordinate humanitarian demining: Yuliia Svyrydenko at a meeting with G7 ambassadors

We propose to create a state structure that will coordinate humanitarian demining of the territory of our country. This was announced by the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko during a meeting with G7 ambassadors on humanitarian demining in Ukraine on March 27, 2023. 

At the meeting, which was also attended by representatives of the Ministries of Economy, Agrarian Policy and Food, Defense, and Internal Affairs, the Ukrainian side informed the partners about the situation with the clearance of land from russian shells and mines. In particular, they talked about the necessary financial, technical and human resources. 

"We have already calculated how many resources are needed to accelerate the priority humanitarian demining of agricultural land. We also see ways to accelerate the clearance of explosive ordnance. But we cannot do it without the help of our partners. That is why we are appealing to the G7 countries to provide us with financial support and help with special equipment and training," said Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economy. 

According to the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, in order to implement these tasks, it is proposed to create a structure that will coordinate humanitarian demining of the territory of our country and will effectively implement all related organizational tasks. This body will represent a single, clearly formulated vision of the industry.  Its activities will be supervised by a supervisory board to which representatives of partner countries have been invited. 

In addition, the G7 ambassadors were offered to take patronage over the mined regions of Ukraine and help clear them of mines and unexploded ordnance. Such cooperation will help accelerate the demining of agricultural land, allowing Ukrainian farmers to start using it sooner. In turn, this will have a positive impact on the country's economy and global food security. 

According to the Government, as of March 2023, one-third of Ukraine is potentially contaminated. The most difficult situation is in the regions where active hostilities have taken place or are ongoing and in the regions liberated from russian occupation. The plan for the priority demining of agricultural land also includes the territories of regions contaminated by missile strikes. In general, according to the priority demining plan, 470,854 hectares of agricultural land are to be surveyed and cleared of mines in Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Chernihiv, and Cherkasy regions.

"To start solving this humanitarian problem, Ukraine now needs thousands of deminers. The experience of other countries shows that demining takes decades. But we don't want to leave the issue to our children. That is why we have to shorten this path without compromising safety standards - by using innovations and higher efficiency of work," added Yuliia Svyrydenko.