The future of humanitarian demining: the Ukrainian experience was discussed at a partner forum in Geneva
24.04.2026
The Ukrainian approach to humanitarian demining in the conditions of a major war became the central theme of the Ukraine Mine Action Partner Coordination Workshop 2026, which was held the other day in Switzerland at the invitation of the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD).
This is one of the most important annual events where all partner countries gather and discuss the key challenges facing Ukraine and the world in the field of humanitarian demining. Currently, our state remains one of the most explosive-contaminated countries in the world and food security is affected in about 25% of its territory.
The event was attended by the director of the Humanitarian Demining Center, Volodymyr Bayda, who presented the Ukrainian experience of humanitarian demining and outlined the next steps of the Central Committee.
The Geneva workshop – is one of the platforms for communication with partners involved in the demining industry. Ukraine shared the results of its work, because our experience is unique. Those programmes implemented by the Humanitarian Demining Centre, together with the Ministry of Economy, the Government and organizations in the field of mine clearance, are unprecedented solutions. Initiatives implemented in Ukraine give partners a clear understanding that our state uses advanced technologies and solutions in demining, and all allocated funds are directed to land clearing. We look forward to scaling up our initiatives. We also hope that our experience will be useful to other countries”, –
volodymyr Bayda said.
During the workshop, participants also discussed challenges in the field of humanitarian demining and the search for new systems of financing the field.
The mining itself has become quite diverse. This is not only a defined nomenclature of ammunition that we have previously encountered, but it is already many other explosive objects. Therefore, the workshop in Geneva – is an opportunity to discuss all these challenges and jointly make decisions that will be implemented in the coming years
the head of the Humanitarian Demining Center added.
Also, within the framework of the event, bilateral meetings were held with representatives of donor countries and international organizations regarding further support for Ukraine, in particular in matters of technical equipment and personnel training.