{"id":8593,"date":"2026-03-24T15:02:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T14:02:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fsd.ch\/?p=8593"},"modified":"2026-10-28T15:29:36","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T14:29:36","slug":"fsd-ukraine-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fsd.ch\/en\/fsd-ukraine-update\/","title":{"rendered":"FSD’s Mine Action Programme in Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Complete Ukraine brochure (September 2026) \u2013 PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Our ongoing operations \u2013 September 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2023, FSD has also contributed to strengthening Ukraine\u2019s national mine action capacity through partnerships with Ukrainian organisations and institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n \n \n<\/svg>\n \n Our impact since June 2022 <\/span>\n\n
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\n \n 5,900,000 <\/div>\n
\n square metres of land cleared and secured <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n 134,000,000 <\/div>\n
\n square metres of land surveyed <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n 589,000 <\/div>\n
\n people educated on the risks of explosive ordnance <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Map of FSD\u2019s operations in Ukraine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Background of our operations in Ukraine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In 2024, FSD opened two satellite offices in Donetsk region and Kryvyi Rih to support its expanding operations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In 2025, FSD launched two capacity-building projects to strengthen Ukraine\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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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\u2019s humanitarian reach.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Strengthening Ukraine\u2019s mine action capacity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporting a local mine action organisation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, FSD launched a three-year programme with the Ukrainian Center for Humanitarian Protection<\/mark><\/a> (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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developing national mechanical demining capacity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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