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Introduction
We live in a country where the right to walk freely down the street has become a security issue. During a full-scale war, large areas of territory remain potentially contaminated with explosive hazards, and this affects daily routes, the operation of businesses, and the return of people home. Humanitarian demining is a systematic civilian activity that restores a sense of control and normalcy to communities.
It is not about frontline operations, but about thorough surveys, cleanup and quality control, complemented by public education. Where specialists work, it becomes possible to open schools, rebuild roads, return farming and investment. Every hectare cleared means new plans, jobs and confidence in the future.
What is humanitarian demining: definition and framework of responsibility
Humanitarian demining is a set of actions aimed at reducing the risk to civilians, restoring access to land and infrastructure and returning normalcy to communities. It includes surveying areas, clearing explosive ordnance, monitoring the quality of work performed and educating the population about mine risk. The ultimate goal is not to destroy the enemy, but to create a safe environment for people.
This approach differs from military engineering demining both in terms of objectives and priorities. The military acts in a combat logic and during operations when the maneuver of units and the retention of positions are at stake. Humanitarian operators work in peaceful or transitional phases, subordinating every decision to the safety of the population, transparency of processes and consistency with state rules.
It is important that these activities are regulated by standards that guarantee predictability and control of risks. The national guidelines are based on international mine action standards that define requirements for personnel training, methods, documentation and reporting. This framework allows different operators to work in a coordinated and comparable manner, and for communities and communities to understand what is happening on their territory.
The responsibility framework assigns roles to the state, demining operators, local governments and citizens. The state establishes rules, coordinates priorities and issues permits; operators ensure technical execution and compliance with standards; communities provide local context, communication and access to sites. The responsibilities of each actor are clearly defined to avoid duplication and chaotic decisions.
Humanitarian demining is also about trust and transparency, as its results directly affect the lives of families and businesses. Documentation of every step, public reports and clear criteria for completion help to avoid misunderstandings and increase the sense of security. When people see the process and its logic, they are more confident in returning to their work.
Ultimately, it is about restoring opportunities. Cleared areas open the way for construction, agricultural production and social services, reducing uncertainty for investors and making communities more resilient. In this sense, humanitarian demining is not only about today’s security, but also about the strategic capacity to develop tomorrow.
How deminers work: stages, protocols, safety precautions
The work of deminers begins long before they enter the field. First, a risk picture is formed: testimonies from residents are collected, data on the course of hostilities are analyzed, and typical directions of shelling and locations are recorded. This allows us to outline the likely areas of contamination so as not to waste resources and expose people to unnecessary danger.
The first formal step is a non-technical survey. The team conducts interviews, reviews archival and satellite images, checks maps, and studies the logic of the terrain and infrastructure. The result is a preliminary marking of the territories: the areas are given the status of suspicious or confirmed dangerous, and priorities for further action are determined.
Next, the technical survey begins - a thorough work on the ground with the use of devices. Metal detectors, magnetometers, sometimes ground penetrating radar, and manual soil sensing methods are used. An important tool is the marking of corridors and boundaries so that no step goes off plan and each team member understands their trajectory.
When the fact of contamination is confirmed, cleanup is carried out. This can be the destruction of ammunition on site or safe removal with subsequent neutralization at a training ground. Tactical decisions are made taking into account the type of object, depth of burial, state of ignition, proximity to housing or communications. Within populated areas, the priority is to minimize risks to people and property.
After the clearance is completed, quality control is carried out. A team that was not involved in the main work checks the site according to the standards - selectively or continuously, depending on the risk category. Only after documented control can the area be considered cleaned and handed over to the community for use. Protocols and reports remain available to track the history of the work.
Teamwork is critical because the field of work is multidisciplinary. Research engineers, explosives experts, mine-sniffing dog operators, and tactical medics work alongside deminers. Everyone has clearly defined roles, and the safety officer coordinates the group’s movement, time control, and readiness to evacuate in the event of an incident.
Safety is embodied in the details. From the choice of personal protective equipment - helmets, goggles, body armor, gloves - to regular briefings before going out. Weather conditions, ground conditions, visibility, and the presence of scrap metal or debris change the search methods. Any anomaly is recorded and requires a reassessment of the risk, even if it means suspending work.
The work ends not with an explosion, but with the transfer of the space to people. After the facility is closed, communities receive recommendations for further use of the land, sometimes with designated corridors or areas that remain under surveillance. The goal is to ensure that the return to normal life is consistent and safe, without the illusion of a "full guarantee" but with realistically manageable risks.
Types of threats: mines, shells, cluster munitions, IEDs and remnants of war
Mine threats take many forms, and each requires different attention. Anti-tank mines are usually camouflaged on roads, field tracks, and under embankments where heavy equipment passes. Anti-personnel mines can be planted in grass, forest belts, near fences and on paths where people or livestock move.
Unexploded ordnance - artillery shells, mortar shells, and rockets - often remain in the soil after shelling. They can lie shallow, change position after rains or field work, and suddenly activate from the slightest impact. Visually, such objects look like "rusty metal" but retain explosive energy inside.
Cluster munitions create scattered fields of small unexploded submunitions. They are dangerous because they are small, bright or "interesting" shapes, sometimes resembling toys or parts of machinery. That is why the risks for children and adolescents are particularly high, and the areas of contamination often stretch for tens of hectares.
Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) add to the unpredictability. They are created from various components and can be disguised as household items, boxes, bags, or left behind. The triggers include pressure, tension, tilt, magnet, or remote control, so attempts to "gently move" can result in tragedy.
Remnants of war - tripwires, traps in houses and outbuildings - often appear where people do not expect a threat. Doors that open unusually tightly, moved objects, removed manhole covers or cut wires can be indicators of intentionally laid traps. Any temptation to "check for yourself" only increases the risk.
To summarize, the spectrum of threats - from industrial mines to artisanal booby traps - requires the same approach: do not touch, do not move, do not try to defuse. Each type has its own "logic of behavior," but they all follow the same rule: only specialists should work with them. This is how lives are saved and safe spaces for communities are restored.
Coordination and standards: who is responsible and how interaction is built
Humanitarian demining operates on the principle of clearly defined roles. The state defines policy, sets priorities, grants permits and coordinates data to avoid duplication of work. Mine action operators - state, international and national - carry out technical tasks in accordance with approved procedures, while local governments provide access to sites and communication with residents.
Standards are used to make the system clear and predictable. The national documents are based on international mine action standards that describe requirements for staff training, survey techniques, equipment quality and reporting processes. This allows different teams to act in a coordinated manner and ensures the same safety criteria for communities in different regions.
Coordination starts with information sharing. Applications from communities, reports from residents, and data from previous operations are collected in unified registers, where each site receives a status and history of changes. This approach makes it possible to plan resources, adjust routes, avoid overlapping areas, and reduce the time from request to actual work.
In practice, the interaction takes place through regular meetings, joint briefings, and approval protocols. When operators receive a task, they agree on a calendar, site boundaries, access rules, and an algorithm for informing the public. Local services - utilities, healthcare, and education - receive brief instructions to maintain a safe regime during the work period.
Personnel training and certification follow unified requirements. This includes not only pre-employment courses, but also regular recertification, the introduction of new methods and techniques, and incident analysis. The safety culture is maintained not by orders, but by daily practice: briefings, incident reviews, and mutual checks in teams.
In the end, coordination is not bureaucracy, but a way to reduce uncertainty and risk. When the rules are known, roles are defined, and information circulates without delays, communities get livable spaces faster. Standards turn a complex set of actions into a clear sequence of steps, with human safety as the constant point of reference.
Technology and innovation: from drones to modern detectors
Technology in humanitarian demining speeds up the work and reduces risks, but it does not replace the professional assessment of deminers. Unmanned aerial vehicles help to inspect hard-to-reach areas, record suspicious changes in the terrain, and update contamination maps without unnecessarily exposing people to dangerous areas. Aerial photography allows us to detect sinkholes, scattered debris, possible munitions drop sites, and create tasks for ground teams.
Modern sensors expand the possibilities of technical inspection. Metal detectors with digital signal processing better distinguish the target from the "noise" of scrap metal, reducing false positives. Magnetometers detect ferromagnetic objects at considerable depths, and ground penetrating radar provides insight into soil anomalies where metal is not the main indicator. The combination of several methods increases the probability of detection and allows for rational time management.
Robotic platforms and remote manipulators take over the most risky operations. Small crawler or wheeled robots can drive up to a suspicious object, transmit video, perform initial diagnostics, and set a charge for controlled detonation. This is especially useful in environments where additional traps or unstable ground are suspected.
GIS and digital maps have become a central planning tool. Each discovery is recorded with coordinates, a photo and a description, and the status of the site is updated in near real time. This way, teams can see progress, avoid route crossings, and plan logistics. For communities, this means transparency: clear boundaries of work, expected timelines, and notifications of changes.
Data analysis algorithms help identify patterns. Clustering of events suggests where to focus resources, and the history of shelling and directions of fire creates models of possible contamination. At the same time, the decision always rests with the specialist on the ground, because statistics do not take into account the small details of the terrain, vegetation, and human factor that sappers "read" in the field.
Innovations also affect personal protection. Lighter goggles with improved optics, ergonomic body armor, puncture-resistant gloves and shoes reduce fatigue and improve movement accuracy. Communication equipment with active noise cancellation allows you to maintain contact in noisy environments and not lose concentration during long shifts.
How to help deminers
Supporting demining begins with simple and safe actions that have a tangible result. The most effective way is to make targeted contributions for equipment, training and logistics of the teams working in your region. Donating through the foundation’s website ensures quick conversion of funds into specific needs: detectors, personal protective equipment, consumables for controlled explosions, fuel and maintenance of equipment.
To support the sappers right now, make a donation through the foundation’s website. On the donation page, you can choose the amount, the purpose of the funds and receive a confirmation for reporting purposes. Each hryvnia is a concrete step towards a safe road, an open school and a confident return home. Your decision today helps save lives tomorrow.
Financial assistance is the most flexible, as the needs change depending on the stage of work and the season. Today it may be repairing a drone for aerial reconnaissance, tomorrow it may be replacing goggles and gloves, and the day after that it may be providing mine safety training sessions for schools. Transparent reporting and public updates allow you to track how your contributions translate into cleared areas and training sessions.
If you represent a business or a community, partnership projects focusing on specific areas or directions are useful. This can include support for mobile MRE teams to educate the public, co-financing a technical inspection of critical infrastructure, and providing temporary accommodation and logistics for sapper units. Such initiatives speed up the work and reduce pauses between stages.
Volunteering in demining is primarily about communication and coordination, not work in the field. You can help with the distribution of proven mine safety materials, organizing local information meetings, translating instructions, and administering citizen requests. Any initiatives should be coordinated with official operators to avoid creating parallel channels and risks.
Personal contribution is also a discipline in everyday life. Report suspicious items to official channels, avoid self-initiated "checks" and do not share unverified advice. When the rules are consistently followed, teams work faster and safer, and your neighborhood returns to normal faster.
Conclusion: Safety as a shared responsibility
Humanitarian demining gives communities back the right to a safe space, but it is a process that takes time, discipline and cooperation. Deminers do the technical part, while your attentiveness and compliance with the rules make the environment predictable. When everyone knows their role, risks become manageable and the path to recovery becomes more realistic.
It is important to make informed decisions without haste. Do not approach suspicious objects, do not change the landscape on your own, report findings to official channels - these simple steps save lives. Transparent communication, timely updates, and trust in procedures help avoid misunderstandings and dangerous experiments.
Safety does not equal the absence of threats, it starts with well-organized actions and realistic expectations. Education, coordination, and technology work best when supported by responsible community behavior. This is how shared resilience is built: from a cleared path to a restored business to a confident return home.
