Yulia Svyrydenko: Mine-contaminated agricultural land will be returned to safe use more quickly

The Government has adopted a decision that will allow farmland currently in use, despite its legal status as potentially mine-contaminated, to be returned to circulation more promptly. This was announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko.

“We have amended the Procedure for surveying plots that benefit from privileges due to potential mine contamination. From now on, local authorities will verify whether such land is being used for its intended agricultural purpose. The data will be forwarded to the Centre for Humanitarian Demining. Mine action specialists will carry out a non-technical survey to confirm or refute the presence of contamination. If the plot is genuinely being cultivated, the tax privileges will be cancelled,” the Prime Minister informed.

According to data from the GRIT platform, more than 10,000 hectares are currently being cultivated while simultaneously holding the status of potentially contaminated.

Priority will be given precisely to such plots that can be safely returned to productive use. Every hectare of Ukrainian land must be used efficiently.

“This is one of the steps in the Government’s systematic work on demining. We are strengthening the sector’s capabilities – increasing the number of operators, equipment and opportunities for rapid demining,” the Prime Minister noted.

Since February 2022, the area of territory returned to productive use after clearance of explosive hazards already amounts to 49,415 km². In 2025 alone, 21,683 km² were returned to productive use.

Yulia Svyrydenko emphasised: “Demining is the foundation for recovery and for people returning to their communities.”