– Italy has announced a new significant contribution to Ukraine's humanitarian demining efforts, formalized today through the official signing of a EUR 1.5 million agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine. The agreement, the principle beneficiary of which will be the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, aims to bolster the UNDP Mine Action Programme – crucial for the country's recovery and rebuilding.
The signing ceremony in Kyiv, attended by high-level dignitaries, underscores the urgent need for continued international support in addressing the extensive mine contamination across Ukraine. Approximately 138,500 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory are estimated to be potentially affected by explosive ordnance, posing a grave threat to civilians and significantly undermining economic stability.
, said that humanitarian demining would be the very first stage of Ukraine's economic recovery, and a humanitarian necessity. “The concluded agreement is important for implementing the National Mine Action Strategy, and will allow for projects to clear agricultural land, develop infrastructure, restore economic activity in de-occupied territories, and facilitate the return of citizens to their homes,” she said. “The agreement demonstrates the strength of international partnership, which is critically important for our nation’s resilience.”
, stated at the signing ceremony, “Italy is proud to stand with Ukraine in its critical efforts to clear its land and waters of explosive ordnance. This new contribution demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the safety and recovery of the Ukrainian people, and it is a vital step towards restoring livelihoods and ensuring a secure future for the country.”
, emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership. “The scale of mine contamination in Ukraine is unprecedented, and it demands a comprehensive and collaborative response. UNDP is deeply grateful for Italy’s generous support, which will enable us to deploy innovative technologies, enhance training, and expand land release activities, ultimately saving lives and accelerating Ukraine's sustainable development.”
Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, UNDP has played a pivotal role in advancing Ukraine’s mine action efforts. Leveraging satellite imagery and advanced geospatial tools, UNDP has assessed over 94,000 square kilometres of potentially contaminated territory, including more than 36,000 square kilometres of agricultural land. Additionally, Non-Technical Survey (NTS) has been conducted on 37.92 km² of land, and 256,072 m² have been searched by Ukraine’s first Technical Survey Dogs—marking a significant innovation in land release methodologies.
In close partnership with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the National Mine Action Authority, UNDP has supported the development and testing of advanced technologies for humanitarian demining. This includes drones, remote sensors, and cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) systems, underpinned by the creation of a high-quality dataset to train AI models for explosive hazard detection.
UNDP also supports the Government’s Ground Rehabilitation through Innovative Technologies (GRIT) automated prioritization system, which uses real-time data to inform land release decisions. As part of this effort, UNDP has equipped 202 SESU demining teams and significantly enhanced Ukraine’s underwater demining capabilities by delivering 16 state-of-the-art uncrewed underwater systems. These systems allow SESU divers to operate at depths of up to 300 metres and are fitted with advanced navigation and imaging technologies to improve UXO detection in low-visibility conditions.
The newly mobilized funding will further strengthen land release operations, enhance information management systems, and support tailored training programmes for persons with disabilities, veterans, and victims of explosive ordnance.
UNDP has also played a central role in supporting the development of Ukraine’s National Mine Action Strategy 2024–2033 and its accompanying Operational Plan 2024–2026, along with comprehensive Training of Trainers (ToT) and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) curricula for national authorities.
Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: [email protected]
