Mined fields: the first state contract for demining is implemented in the Mykolaiv region

In October, large-scale demining of agricultural fields was started in the Mykolaiv region on the order of the state. This is the first humanitarian demining tender conducted through the Prozorro system. According to the results of the competition, the company «Ukrainian demining services» (UDS) won, which by the end of the year has to clear 86 hectares of land in the Shevchenkiv community on the border with the Kherson region.

Journalists of NikVesti spoke with a farmer whose fields are demined as part of this project and representatives of the operating company about the importance of demining for the agricultural sector and the opportunities that arise due to state support.

How farmers overcome the challenges of mined fields

The full-scale war left a significant mark on the agriculture of Ukraine, especially on the lands in the front-line regions. One of the first farmers who received support from the state for demining was Viktor Chubyk, director of the Kedr farm. The company has 17 land plots in the Mykolaiv region with a total area of more than 100 hectares, which need to be cleared of explosive objects.

«The lands around the settlement were extremely littered with mines and ammunition. We tried to clean them by our own efforts, but it did not give the expected results,» says Viktor Chubyk.

After the liberation of Kherson region, the farmer tried to restore the economy, but the mined fields remained dangerous.

«By spring, we prepared about 200 hectares that could be sown, but without professional demining, the work remained risky and very expensive,» he adds.

Now, thanks to state financing and participation in the tender, the farm gets the opportunity to use its land safely. Viktor Chubyk plans to plant sunflowers or barley on the cleared areas, returning to full-fledged agricultural production.

How sappers of Ukrainian demining services work

Humanitarian demining in Ukraine became possible thanks to the involvement of private companies. The Center for Humanitarian Demining concluded a contract with the company «Ukrainian Demining Services» (UDS), which became the first contract in the history of Ukraine where the public sector officially involved a private operator.

The technical director of the company «Ukrainian demining services» Eduard Drach said that the company was created at the request of the state for humanitarian demining of the lands of Ukraine in September 2023. The company started its practical activities in January 2024 and now works in several regions, in particular Mykolaiv.

Since October 7, the company's sappers have been actively working in the fields near the Myrne village of the Shevchenkove community. Six groups of sappers and four «Bozhena 5+» special vehicles are working on demining 12 sites with a total area of 86 hectares. Sappers began their work here on October 7, and plan to finish it by the end of the year. However, technical director Eduard Drach says that this project turned out to be unprofitable for the company.

«Unfortunately, on the scale that we see, the territory is very cluttered with explosive objects. According to our calculations, this is a very unprofitable project for us. But we are glad that the state has already responded to the mining problem and launched such a project. This is the first contract, but we have already signed the second one, also in the Mykolaiv region,» he says.

Demining works are performed by specialists who have considerable experience in the Ministry of Defense and the State Emergency Service. Some of them received combat injuries, but continue to work in this field and pass on their experience to young sappers. A significant part of the staff was recruited after the relevant training and internship.

«We employ sappers who have combat injuries, including lost limbs, but continue to pass on their experience. We also trained and trained new specialists,» added Eduard Drach.

He also noted that the company is currently working on expanding its capabilities and plans to obtain certification for diving operations, which will allow them to perform a full range of mine countermeasures on water bodies.

«We work not only with agricultural land, but also with forests and other territories. Our company is certified for almost all types of mine countermeasures,» said Eduard Drach.

Minesweepers and equipment: how modern technology makes demining safer

The company works with several types of demining: manual and with the help of special machines «Bozhena 5+». Now the company has seven such machines, which are important tools for humanitarian demining, 4 of them work in the Mykolaiv region.

«Working in the field is always a risk. The company's sappers work using the latest technologies, including Bozhena 5+ demining machines. These machines ensure the speed and safety of operations, allowing sappers to check large areas of land,» says Ihor Paraliush, senior sapper of the mechanical demining group.

The operator receives the image from the drone on the remote control screen, which allows him to precisely control the «Bozhena 5+» with the help of two joysticks and a set of buttons. This ensures maximum accuracy when performing tasks.

«Bozhena 5+» is equipped with two interchangeable working bodies that allow effective work on different types of soil. For simple conditions, cleats are used — mechanisms with hammers, and for more complex areas — cutters.

«The operator can be behind a protective shield or at a safe distance, controlling the operation of the machine through a drone,» notes the demining specialist.

On average, the machine can process up to one hectare of territory in one shift. The use of «Bozhena 5+» significantly increases the level of safety during demining. The technique helps reduce the threat posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance, and prepares the ground for further work. This multifunctional approach makes it possible to speed up the process of clearing territories, which is important for the restoration of agriculture and the safety of the population.

«The machine removes vegetation, removes stretch marks and neutralizes unexploded ammunition, performing several tasks at the same time,» explains the specialist.

Ekaterina Hrebelna works precisely by the manual method of demining. A girl with a team of sappers enters the field with manual minesweepers after «Bozhena 5+» has completed its tasks. Kateryna has been working as a sapper for more than a year and currently works in the Mykolaiv region. She says that she chose this profession because she believes that her activity is of great importance for the safety of people and the restoration of normal life in the affected regions. However, recalling the first demining trips, he admits that it was scary.

«I am inspired by the thought that I can help clean up Ukraine. The first few days were really scary, but then I got used to the working conditions. The main thing is to follow safety rules,» she says.

According to Kateryna, compliance with special procedures is a guarantee of safety on the field.

Sapper clothing, she notes, includes special shoes, pants and T-shirts. Before entering the field, the team always uses protective equipment, including first-aid kits and walkie-talkies. Despite the dangers, Kateryna believes that her work is extremely necessary and useful.

«I am not afraid, because I know that I am carrying out an important mission. It's not only about security, but also about restoring people's peace of mind,» she adds.

Farmers and government support: how demining affects agribusiness development

The launch of tenders through Prozorro gave farmers the opportunity to receive full compensation for demining land. The government allocated 2 billion hryvnias for this project in 2024.

«Thanks to the competition, the initial price of the tender decreased by more than a million hryvnias, which allows us to save budget funds, and the farmer receives support for resuming his activities,» says First Vice Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.

The project in the Mykolaiv region is only the beginning of a large-scale humanitarian demining initiative aimed at restoring the agricultural sector in the affected regions.

In addition to financial support for demining, farmers can take advantage of the opportunities provided by the State Agrarian Register. In particular, they can receive information about financing programs, grants and other resources that can help in the recovery and development of agrarian business.

In particular, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) have launched a program to support farmers with demining and rehabilitation of up to 300 hectares of agricultural land affected by hostilities from February 2022.

One of the important conditions is that agricultural producers whose lands are located in de-occupied territories, where contamination or probable contamination with explosive objects have been confirmed after a non-technical survey, can take part in the program.