First land survey certificates issued through Diia for mine action operators
November 19, 2025
A new mine action training course for veterans has been launched in Ukraine. The course was developed by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine together with UNDP and certified mine action operators, providing veterans with the opportunity to obtain a new profession in the humanitarian demining sector.
The training programme includes a theoretical component — studying the legal framework, types of explosive ordnance, safety rules — and an extensive practical part, during which participants work with real equipment and in field conditions.
"Veterans are people with military experience who understand the realities of mine contamination firsthand. For many of them, mine action becomes a logical continuation of their service — but now in a civilian context, saving lives and returning land to people," said Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
The course lasts several weeks and ends with certification. Graduates receive the qualifications necessary for employment with certified mine action operators.
"This course gave me a new direction in life. After military service, I was looking for something meaningful, something where my experience would be useful. Mine action is exactly that — real work that makes the country safer," shared one of the course participants.
The training programme for veterans is part of a broader government effort to develop human resources for the mine action sector. Ukraine needs thousands of additional specialists to achieve the goal of returning 80% of contaminated lands to productive use within 10 years.
