A photo exhibition dedicated to women who demine Ukrainian land opened in Kyiv
February 20, 2026
A photo exhibition dedicated to women who demine Ukrainian land was opened in Kyiv. The exhibition presents photographs of female sappers, dog handlers, and mine action specialists who work daily to clear territories from explosive ordnance.
The exhibition was organised by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine together with UNDP in Ukraine. The photographs capture working moments of women in the mine action sector — from mine detection dog training to operating heavy demining machines.
"Women make up a significant part of the mine action sector in Ukraine. They work as sappers, dog handlers, surveyors, data analysts. This exhibition is about their courage, professionalism, and dedication to the cause of making Ukrainian land safe," said Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
The exhibition features not only photographs but also personal stories of the heroines. Each portrait is accompanied by a short story about how the woman came to the mine action sector, what motivates her, and what challenges she faces in her daily work.
"I came to demining because I wanted to do something truly important for my country. Every metre of cleared land is a metre of safety for someone's family," shared one of the heroines of the exhibition.
Visitors to the exhibition can also learn about the scale of mine contamination in Ukraine, the technologies used for demining, and labour market opportunities in the mine action sector. A special section is devoted to training programmes available for women wishing to work in the sector.
Gender equality is one of the priorities of Ukraine's mine action strategy. The Government actively works to increase the proportion of women in the mine action sector and ensures equal access to employment and professional development.
