The Government Approves the National Mine Action Strategy and the Operational Plan for Its Implementation in the First Three Years
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the National Mine Action Strategy for the period up to 2033 and the Operational Plan for its implementation for the next three years.
"Today we have approved a programmatic document that outlines the main directions and tasks of state policy in the field of mine action. We have a list of steps and targets to achieve in order to reduce the impact of explosive hazards on the lives of people and the economy of Ukraine over the next 10 years. It is important that some of the tasks outlined in the Strategy are already in progress. We have launched a compensation program for demining agricultural land, unified the operator certification procedure, and our partners are procuring equipment and machinery for humanitarian demining, including those made in Ukraine," said Yuliya Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine.
The approved document sets out three strategic goals:
- Ensuring the clearance of territories from the risks of explosive hazards for their safe and productive use;
- Reducing the impact of explosive hazards on the lives and health of the population;
- Building a mine action management system.
The Mine Action Strategy specifies that to achieve the first strategic goal in 2024-2026, it will be necessary to survey as many de-occupied territories as possible to determine their contamination status. The capacity of state mine action operators will also need to be strengthened, and conditions created for the development of the mine action services market.
Another crucial aspect is reducing the impact of mines and other explosive hazards on people's lives. Therefore, the state's task for the next three years will be to enhance public awareness about mined areas and their marking, conduct educational activities about the risks associated with explosive hazards, and implement a protection system for those affected by mines and other explosive hazards.
"An effective mine action management system can significantly increase the efficiency of processes. Clear and unified procedures for everyone, and effective coordination at both national and international levels, are what we have now. By the end of this year, the Ministry of Economy plans to launch a pilot task prioritization system in mine action. This will enhance our demining capabilities through the effective use of available resources," said Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine.
The Operational Plan, an integral part of the Strategy, outlines a detailed list of activities for 2024-2026. The Operational Plan is adopted every three years and has a three-year implementation period.
The adoption of the Mine Action Strategy is one of the indicators of the Ukraine Facility, a financial support program for Ukraine by the European Union.
The Mine Action Strategy was developed by the Ministry of Economy in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and other central executive authorities, including Ukrainian and international experts. This allowed the Strategy to reflect international experience while considering Ukrainian realities.