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Ukraine

FSD’s programme in Ukraine started in 2015. Our team has expanded to meet the considerable needs of the ongoing war. Since August 2022, our deminers have been locating and clearing mines and explosive remnants of war in several provinces.

FSD new recruits undergo practical demining evaluation before being deployed in the field (Ukraine, 2023)

New FSD recruits undergo practical demining evaluation before being deployed in the field (Ukraine, 2023)

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300 FSD staff are active to clear the land from mines and unexploded ordnance in Ukraine

January 2024 / The fighting in Ukraine has left behind hundreds of thousands of anti-personnel mines, anti-vehicle mines and unexploded or abandoned ordnance which did not explode on impact. According to the Ukrainian authorities, a third of the country is contaminated. These dangerous remnants of war not only threaten the lives of civilians, but also obstruct humanitarian efforts, hamper reconstruction and prevent farmers from accessing their fields.

In total, more than 300 FSD staff are active in the provinces of Chernihiv and Kharkiv. Operations are also being carried out on an ad hoc basis in the provinces of Mykolaïv, Kherson and Odessa.

To date, FSD has eighteen clearance teams, twelve non-technical survey teams and nine explosive ordnance risk education teams. Specialized machines are used to prepare the ground for clearance in rural areas, while armoured construction machines help with the clearance of collapsed buildings.

In addition to the partnership with the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Switzerland is funding a large-scale project in the province of Kharkiv and the opening of a new operational base in the province of Kherson. FSD is also focusing on harnessing new technologies and constantly improving its geographic information systems. This refines the skills of our teams and strengthens our ability to intervene rapidly in other critical zones.

In 2023 (up to November 30), FSD’s demining teams have secured more than 300,000 square metres of land, including farmland, village areas, towns and vital infrastructure. During the same period, more than 130,000 women, men and children took part in FSD risk education sessions, learning how to identify explosive devices and how to adopt the right behaviour to stay safe in the face of this threat.

Since March 2023, FSD has been providing technical assistance to the Ukrainian State Emergency Service (SESU) in the deployment and use of eight demining machines recently received by Ukraine.

I found a big pile of explosives near a village. I’m happy FSD found them and not the local children because, at first glance, it doesn’t look dangerous at all.

Nadiya Kudriavtseva

Ukrainian FSD deminer

Nadiya, 25, deminer for FSD in Ukraine
Stories

News from Ukraine

FSD MV10 demining machine preparing the ground in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine

Our operations in January 2024

As of the 1st of January 2024, FSD employs more than 300 FSD staff members in the provinces of Kharkiv and Chernihiv. Expanision of the current projects and a new operational base in Kherson region are planned for this year.

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Help us prevent mine accidents

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is littering cities and farmland with massive amounts of unexploded ordnance. Every contribution, regardless of the amount, helps us rid the country of these lethal remnants of war.

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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DEMINER

Here is what clearing fields of unexploded ordnance looks like for deminers in Ukraine; from the preparation of the equipment, the use of detectors, to the excavation of explosive ordnance. This is difficult work that has significant impact on the local residents.

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Mine clearance

FSD deminers work to clear areas where fighting has stopped. Mines and unexploded ordnance are excavated and neutralised to allow residents to move around safely and farmers to plant their crops.

In 2022, FSD surveyed nearly 5,000,000 square meters of land for potential hazardous contamination.

FSD Clearance team member excavating an explosive device in Ukraine
Ukraine

Capacity building

FSD helps strengthen the national authorities’ capabilities so that they can coordinate mine action on their territory autonomously and efficiently. In Ukraine, FSD advises and trains the Ukrainian authorities (State Emergency Services) in the deployment and use of demining machines.

Three Ukrainian men with a machine specialized in mine clearance
Ukraine

Risk education

FSD teams conducts campaigns in villages and in schools to educate people, especially the youngest, who are the most at threat, of the dangers of mines and unexploded ordnance.

Risk awareness campaigns are also offered online, through Facebook, on the dedicated FSD page BezMin.info

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Timeline

FSD in Ukraine

FSD’s involvement in Ukraine dates back to the beginning of 2015, in the Donbas region. The aim was to minimise civilian casualties by teaching people to “live with” mines and unexploded ordnance in relative safety until all contaminated areas are cleared.

In 2017, FSD began a demining programme to locate and destroy explosive devices in the same region.

In late 2019, a project was launched to increase access to education in conflict areas. When FSD staff visited schools and kindergartens for their mine risk education missions, they saw the extent of destruction of schools and the devastating impact of the conflict on the daily lives of children.

In 2022, as the fighting intensified and spread throughout the country, FSD’s activities were reoriented to provide emergency humanitarian aid (food, shelter, medicines, fuel, etc.).

As soon as the security situation allowed, demining and risk education were resumed.

To date, FSD is mainly active in the provinces of Chernihiv and Kharkiv.

Furthermore, a major partnership with the United Nations (WFP/FAO) has been established to clear small-scale farms of mines.

FSD’s Ukraine programme is funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, Swiss Solidarity, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and several private foundations, Swiss cantons and municipalities.

Centimetres after centimetres

In 2022, more than 1 000 risk education sessions were delivered in affected communities. This is despite the sometimes extreme working conditions.

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An FSD deminer in blue protective vest and visors conducts manual landmine clearance at Khamadoni