Within just 10 days, 63 applications were submitted by Ukrainian farmers through the State Agrarian Register, seeking reimbursement for demining their agricultural lands. The Centre for Humanitarian Demining which oversees this program, reported that farmers have requested reimbursement for demining efforts across 1,942 land plots, totalling 9,728 hectares.

"We welcome the significant interest from farmers in the humanitarian demining reimbursement program. While the applications and farmers themselves need to be verified, we are optimistic that positive decisions will be made for some applicants this month," said Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Igor Bezkaravainyi.

Approved in March 2024, the reimbursement program covers 80% of the cost for humanitarian demining of agricultural land, which the farmer plans to carry out or has carried out from February 24, 2022, to April 15, 2024.

Volodymyr Bayda, Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Demining, explained: "Our specialists are working closely with the State Tax Service, the Mine Action Centre, and the State Land Cadastre to verify the documents of potential participants and present them at the next commission meeting at the Ministry of Economy."

Most of the submitted applications came from Kherson (17), Kharkiv (11), Mykolaiv (10), and Sumy (6) regions. Farmers working in the Kharkiv region submitted 618 land plots for participation in the program, with a total area of over 4,300 hectares, Sumy region farmers – 609 land plots with an area of over 1,500  hectares, Mykolaiv region farmers – 354 plots with an area of over 1,600 hectares, and Kherson region farmers – 179 land plots with an area of over 1,100 hectares.

Additionally, five applications were also received from farmers who have already completed humanitarian demining of their land between February 24, 2022, and April 15, 2024.

The Commission for Consideration of Issues Related to Compensation for the Costs of Humanitarian Demining of Agricultural Land at the Ministry of Economy will review applications from both farmers planning to start demining agricultural lands and those who have already done so.

Farmers who are subject to sanctions imposed by Ukraine, or those with ultimate owners who are citizens of the aggressor country, are not eligible for compensation. Farmers who are in the process of liquidation or bankruptcy, as well as those with tax debts, will also not be able to receive compensation.

It is worth mentioning that the coordination of humanitarian demining is overseen by Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Yuliia Svyrydenko. The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine ensures the cooperation of central executive authorities in the field of mine action, particularly in the area of humanitarian demining.