Art and music for humanitarian demining: Ukraine's cultural program at UMAC 2025

A song dedicated to demining, Ukrainian borscht, and unique gifts: how Ukraine impressed guests from around the world at UMAC 2025 in Tokyo. The Ukrainian delegation prepared a vibrant cultural programme alongside the official events of the conference.

"We wanted to show the world not only the challenges of mine contamination but also the soul and culture of Ukraine. Music, cuisine, and art are powerful tools for conveying our message and creating an emotional connection with the audience," said a member of the Ukrainian delegation.

The highlight of the cultural programme was the performance of a song dedicated to humanitarian demining. The song was performed by a Ukrainian artist and became an emotional culmination of the event, drawing the audience's attention to the human dimension of the mine problem.

Ukrainian borscht was served at the reception for the conference participants. The dish, which is part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, became a symbol of Ukrainian culinary traditions and the country's agricultural potential, which is directly linked to the issue of demining.

Unique gifts were prepared for the conference participants — handmade items and products created from grain grown on demined fields. Each gift symbolised the connection between humanitarian demining and Ukraine's revival.

"Every element of our programme has a meaning. The song speaks of hope, the borscht of the land that feeds, and the gifts of the labour of those who make that land safe. Together, this creates a complete picture of what humanitarian demining means for Ukraine," explained the organiser of the cultural programme.

UMAC 2025 in Tokyo brought together representatives of 57 countries and became the largest international event dedicated to humanitarian demining of Ukraine. The cultural programme of the Ukrainian delegation received high praise from participants.