Non-technical survey is the basis of effective demining
11.07.2025
At the event “Basics of Non-Technical Survey and the Threat of Mines and Explosive Ordnance to Communities,” Andriy Datsyuk, Deputy Director of the Humanitarian Demining Center (Center) for Digital Transformation and Innovation, drew attention to an important, but not always visible, part of the area clearance process – non-technical survey (NTS). This is the first stage in a systematic approach to humanitarian demining.
Non-technical inspection: savings and efficiency
NTO allows you to identify areas that need to be cleared and, if possible, clear the area without expensive and time-consuming demining work. That is why such a survey is critically important both for the speed of processes and for saving budget funds.
The role of communities: information, logistics and trust
Local authorities play a leading role in conducting NTO. They have the best knowledge of their territories, receive complaints from residents about possible threats, and have access to important local information.
State Compensation Program: Results and Challenges
Since the launch of the state program for compensation for agricultural land demining, 73 contracts have been signed. Of these, 27 contracts have already been executed. In total, almost 2,900 hectares have been cleared. The savings in the average cost of purchasing 1 hectare of demining compared to the expected cost with the actual cost under signed contracts is over 17%.
However, many applications were rejected due to the lack of NTO for the submitted plots. To address this problem, the Center initiated a free survey in cooperation with communities and PMD operators. In Kharkiv region, NTO has already been completed for over 20 thousand hectares.
Current challenges and new initiatives
A separate problem is applications for compensation for lands that have already been sown. The Center is forced to cancel auctions for such plots. The solution to this issue is to strengthen the quality control function of the Humanitarian Demining Center, in particular by expanding the staff and involving international experts.
Accessibility for sole proprietors and new approaches
Another barrier is the inaccessibility of the program for farmers who are not registered in the State Agrarian Register (INThe Center has already developed a mechanism for involving individual entrepreneurs in the program in cooperation with local governments.
The next step is forests.
The Center also initiated the expansion of the program to forest lands. Of the 687 thousand hectares of forests affected by military operations, 171 thousand hectares require demining. These are areas with high risks, including fires. Special attention is paid to forests in the Chernobyl zone.
Partnership is the foundation of success
"Land return is not just about equipment or funds. It is a matter of partnership between all participants in the sector. We are already seeing positive results where there is cooperation between local authorities, farmers, PMD operators, and state bodies. Our task is to make the process understandable and accessible to every community that needs it," Andriy Datsyuk concluded.
The Center continues to work to ensure that the humanitarian demining process is transparent, accessible, and effective for every community.


