Mine action coordination: results of the partner workshop

Photo: Kseniia Nevincha, UNDP in Ukraine

On October 2-3, the international exhibition-forum SECURITY 2.0 took place. This event is a leading platform for demonstrating advanced technologies in the field of humanitarian demining, construction of bomb shelters, pre-medical aid, and other aspects of civil protection.

Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, in his welcoming speech at the opening of the forum emphasized that over the past year Ukraine has achieved significant success in the field of humanitarian demining.

Photo: Kseniia Nevincha, UNDP in Ukraine

"2024 became a year of progress: from regulatory frameworks to the implementation of new technologies. Thanks to the support of partners and the relentless work of specialized institutions, we approved a 10-year strategy and strengthened the humanitarian demining market. Today at the forum, we see how these innovations are already working in practice," said Bezkaravainyi.

During the exhibition, more than 100 domestic and international companies that have already entered or are entering the Ukrainian market presented their developments. An important part of the forum was also discussions on the topic of financing in the field of humanitarian demining and compensations.

Thus, during SECURITY 2.0, the forum "Financial foundations in humanitarian demining and principles of compensation in the agricultural sector" was held.

During the discussion, Dmytro Panshin, Head of the Humanitarian Demining Department of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, spoke about how the compensation program for humanitarian demining of agricultural lands works and outlined the general conditions for participation, as well as the expected result from this activity.

And Volodymyr Baida, Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Demining, emphasized the importance of launching and implementing the program:

"In September of this year, a highly important stage began as part of the implementation of the program to compensate funds for humanitarian demining of agricultural lands. For the first time in Ukraine, auctions for the procurement of agricultural land demining services were held, and based on their results, the first contracts have already been signed.

Holding the auctions showed operators the safety and transparency of working conditions, which will contribute to market stability. For the global community, this is a signal about the creation of clear and understandable mechanisms that will allow this market to effectively develop in Ukraine."

Photo: Kseniia Nevincha, UNDP in Ukraine

The following also took part in the discussion:

• Tymur Pistriuha, Head of the Ukrainian Deminers Association;

• Ruslan Berehulia, Head of the Main Department of Mine Action;

• Oleksii Cherniuk, Deputy Director of Kvertus;

• Andrii Demianovych, CEO and founder of Feodal;

• Yevhenii Biriukov, Head of the Mine Action Centre;

• Oleksandr Lobov, UNDP Mine Action Expert;

• Ivan Fursenko, Vice President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Ukraine;

• Olha Drobot, Deputy Head of the Research Institute of Testing and Certification.

In addition, as part of SECURITY 2.0, a demonstration session "Modern technologies and equipment in humanitarian demining of Ukraine" was held.

Photo: Kseniia Nevincha, UNDP in Ukraine

During this event, Ukrainian and international companies showed their developments in action: from the work of sappers and service dogs to the demonstration of the latest unmanned and robotic systems (air and ground) and the passage of field routes. There was also a demonstration of the work of divers when finding explosive items.

The organizer of SECURITY 2.0 is the "Euroindex" company, co-organizers are the Ukrainian Deminers Association and the League of Defense Companies of Ukraine with the support of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Strategic Industries, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine.