Ukraine’s experience in humanitarian demining, land recovery and agricultural development during a full-scale war was the focus of a meeting between African journalists and representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Director of Department for Rural Development Oleksii Pinchuk, and journalists from Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritania, Senegal and Togo.

The event took place as part of a media tour to Ukraine organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine together with the European External Action Service.

Participants paid particular attention to the impact of war and landmine contamination on food security. Discussions focused on the consequences of the war for Ukraine’s agricultural sector, the challenges caused by damaged infrastructure and contaminated farmland, and Ukraine’s role as one of the key suppliers of food products to global markets, including countries across Africa.

“Humanitarian demining is the first step of recovery. As long as land remains contaminated by mines and explosive remnants of war, people cannot return home, communities cannot recover, and the economy cannot function fully. That is why Ukraine is not only clearing land but also building a modern humanitarian mine action system that combines public policy, technology, international support and practical solutions to return land to safe and productive use as quickly as possible,” said Ihor Bezkaravainyi.

For many African countries, contamination by explosive remnants of war remains a serious challenge. Unexploded ordnance often remains as a legacy of conflicts from the second half of the twentieth century or as a result of more recent hostilities.

Oleksii Pinchuk, Director of Department for Rural Development, spoke about Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen trade relations with African countries and expand its presence across the continent.

“Ukraine’s seaports are operating at full capacity and are capable of handling sufficient volumes to support stable exports. Ukraine, and our ministry in particular, is implementing initiatives such as agricultural hubs. The first one has already been established near Accra, Ghana. These projects encourage Ukrainian businesses to explore new markets and expand into new countries with confidence,” said Oleksii Pinchuk.

Ukraine remains the country with the largest area of war-affected land potentially contaminated by mines and explosive remnants of war. At the same time, the government continues to develop its humanitarian mine action system, introduce innovative technologies and digital data management tools, and implement mechanisms that support the safe and productive return of land to use.