ICRC supports mine action and victim assistance programs in Ukraine

The Ministry of Economy, jointly with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), MAG, and APOPO, began work on reforming the demining sector to involve dogs and create the corresponding national standard. Under this initiative, 8 female dog handlers and 16 mine detection dogs have already been trained, and they will work in the fields of the Kharkiv region for the next 7 months.

Photo: Ksenia Nevenichenko / UNDP in Ukraine

Project participants are graduates of the Sumy National Agrarian University with a degree in cynology. Additionally, they underwent three months of training in Cambodia, where they worked in the fields alongside the dogs. Dogs can work at temperatures above 5°C, allowing them to participate in demining even late in the fall or during a warm winter. In the summer, they can withstand temperatures up to 35°C. As part of this project, a single handler works with two dogs in shifts: while one dog surveys the territory, the other rests.

Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Ihor Bezkaravainyi participated in the presentation of the project, which is implemented with support from the governments of Spain, the Netherlands, and the European Union.

"I saw how effectively handlers work with mine detection dogs. It is several times faster than ordinary sappers. Therefore, I am grateful to the partners for initiating this project. We are accumulating the world's best practices, mapping them onto a national standard, and after working with dogs in the fields under various conditions, I am sure that our experience will serve as the foundation for updating international standards," stated Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Ihor Bezkaravainyi.

The use of teams with mine detection dogs will accelerate the demining process in Ukraine: a fully trained working dog can survey an area of 1,500 square meters per day, while a human sapper can cover 20-50 square meters per day. Dogs ignore scrap metal and only pick up the scent of explosives, meaning they locate mines and tripwires faster than sappers with metal detectors.

"Deploying specifically trained dogs bolsters the efficiency and outcomes of our demining missions. Their abilities enable us to conduct a much more thorough survey of the areas, accurately pinpointing the threat, which is crucial for communities to safely reclaim their lands," shared MAG Chief Executive Jon Cunliffe.

"The project involving mine detection dogs doesn't just further the progress of demining pushes in Ukraine but also acts as an advocate for gender equality by embracing Ukrainian women to work as dog handlers. This initiative expands prospects for women, facilitates professional evolution, and portrays a dedication to elevating gender equality in all domains, including mine action," remarked Ricardo Lopez-Aranda Jagu, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Ukraine.

The international mine action operator MAG and the non-profit APOPO, specializing in training animals for demining, will involve teams with mine detection dogs mapping across 180 hectares in the Kharkiv region. Moving forward, the handlers and dogs will also be active in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.

"This endeavor perfectly exemplifies our committed effort toward enhancing safety across regions scarred by hostilities. By pouring resources into an effective demining mechanism, our intent is to reinstate safety and clear land intended for humanitarian causes and progressive proposals, consequently fostering the resurgence and advancement of Ukraine," underlined Alle Dorhout, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ukraine.

Building upon the project layout, international allies alongside members affiliated with the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Defense, and the SES draft the preliminary version of a national demining standard calling for dogs. Achieving this benchmark establishes the capacity to scale the educational curriculum while boosting the census of mine-detecting handlers and canines, effectively speeding up the demining progression.

"Leveraging mine detection dogs, already verified intensely spanning countless regions worldwide, accurately falls within our pledges connected to outlining national guidelines concerning mine action expressly altered for unique Ukrainian conditions. This strategy does more than jumpstart our demining aims; it posits a direction marking forthcoming ventures ensuring safer and sharper elimination of explosive artifacts," stressed Jaco Cilliers, Resident Representative of the UNDP in Ukraine.

It is relevant to point out that matters encircling humanitarian demining are overseen by the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine — Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko. The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine maintains coordination across fundamental governmental bodies relating to mine action inside bounds tied to humanitarian demining.