FSD’s Mine Action Programme in Ukraine

24 March 2026 / Zoé Le Goff

Fighting in Ukraine has left behind millions of landmines, cluster munitions, and unexploded or abandoned ordnance, making the country one of the most contaminated in the world. More than a quarter of Ukraine’s territory is believed to be affected by these explosive remnants. This update highlights FSD’s demining work in Ukraine since 2015.

Complete Ukraine brochure (September 2026) – PDF

Our ongoing operations – September 2026

As of September 2026, around 450 FSD staff members are actively engaged across seven regions: Chernihiv, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Poltava, Mykolaiv and Sumy.

Ten teams are currently conducting surveys of suspected hazardous areas, while thirty-three demining teams are focused on locating and clearing explosive ordnance in minefields and former battle zones. Five mechanical demining teams use specialised machinery to prepare rural areas for clearance and armoured construction vehicles to remove rubble from structures damaged or destroyed by ordnance. One mine detection dog team supports clearance operations. In parallel, ten teams are delivering risk education in schools and communities, complemented by digital campaigns across social media platforms.

Since 2023, FSD has also contributed to strengthening Ukraine’s national mine action capacity through partnerships with Ukrainian organisations and institutions.

Our impact since June 2022

5,900,000

square metres of land cleared and secured

134,000,000

square metres of land surveyed

589,000

people educated on the risks of explosive ordnance

Map of FSD’s operations in Ukraine

Background of our operations in Ukraine

FSD began working in Ukraine in early 2015, initially providing risk education and conducting surveys in the Donbas region. In 2016, the programme expanded to include clearance operations, with FSD recruiting and training local deminers. Over the following years, FSD also supported Ukrainian institutions in strengthening national mine action capacities.

At the end of February 2022, following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine , FSD temporarily suspended and reoriented its activities to allow staff to ensure the safety of their families and provide emergency humanitarian aid to communities affected by the conflict. By June 2022, the improved security situation enabled FSD to establish a new operational base in Chernihiv, followed by another in Kharkiv province in November, allowing the resumption of demining activities.

In 2023, FSD strengthened its operational capacities through the recruitment and training of staff, as well as the acquisition of equipment. Two satellite operations offices were opened in Donetsk province and in Kryvyi Rih to support the northeastern part of Kherson province.

In 2024, FSD opened two satellite offices in Donetsk region and Kryvyi Rih to support its expanding operations.

In 2025, FSD launched two capacity-building projects to strengthen Ukraine’s national mine action capacity. One supports the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in developing its mechanical demining capacity, while the other supports the local NGO Ukrainian Center for Humanitarian Protection in developing its operational and organisational capacities.

FSD is now active across seven regions, with around 450 staff covering the full spectrum of humanitarian mine action activities. Survey and risk education activities have expanded into Mykolaiv and Sumy, further extending FSD’s humanitarian reach.

Strengthening Ukraine’s mine action capacity

With vast areas of Ukraine affected by mines and other explosive ordnance, addressing contamination will require sustained mine action efforts for years to come. Strengthening national and local capacities is therefore essential to support a long-term, locally led response.

Supporting a local mine action organisation

In 2025, FSD launched a three-year programme with the Ukrainian Center for Humanitarian Protection (UCHP) to strengthen its operational and organisational capacities. FSD provides training and mentoring across non-technical survey, risk education and clearance, while supporting the organisation in developing the structures needed to independently manage its mine action activities.

UCHP has obtained national accreditation for non-technical survey, risk education and demining. Two demining teams are now fully operational, alongside one risk education team and one non-technical survey team.

Developing national mechanical demining capacity

FSD is also strengthening the mechanical demining capacity of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine through specialised training and the rehabilitation of a workshop for the repair, maintenance and modernisation of demining machines.

FSD further strengthens the technical expertise of Ukrainian mine action personnel through specialised training, including programmes delivered by its accredited in-house training centre.

Objectives for the next twelve months

Expanding humanitarian reach: In 2026, FSD mine action operations will continue at full speed across the four provinces of Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donetsk. Survey and risk education activities have also expanded into the neighbouring regions of Sumy and Mykolaiv, with plans to further develop these activities in the coming months.
Reinforcing local capacity: Building on its ongoing capacity-building programmes, FSD will continue strengthening Ukrainian mine action capacities through the transfer of operational responsibilities, specialised training and support to national and local partners.
Increasing the use of technology: FSD will continue its collaboration with non-profit start-up FindMine to test its UAV-based remote sensing system in Ukraine. Equipped with ground-penetrating radar, the UAV can detect buried objects such as mines and unexploded ordnance. FSD is also piloting an innovative digital hazard-marking system using QR codes to give communities access to up-to-date digital maps showing contamination risks. Following successful initial tests, the system will be expanded to additional regions.

Our Funding

FSD’s mine action activities in Ukraine are supported and funded by institutional donors, private donors, and Swiss cantons and municipalities. FSD remains committed to maintaining and expanding its operations in order to maximise humanitarian impact for affected populations and accelerate the clearance of the country.