kraine’s humanitarian demining system is operating slower than required by the scale of contamination. It was not designed for the current volume of mines and explosive remnants. Responsibilities are split across multiple agencies. This complicates decisions and increases costs. The situation is worsened by unsuitable equipment, funding gaps, and weak prioritization.
“The mine action system in Ukraine is facing challenges right now, especially given the vast scale of contamination. The current system was not built for this level of contamination, and many structural and practical issues are slowing progress and increasing costs,” said Richard Loydell, Director of DOK-ING Ukraine, in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine News Agency.
One of the key problems is fragmentation. Different bodies are responsible for different parts of the process. This makes coordination harder and delays decisions. There are examples of countries where all processes are consolidated under one authority. Decisions are faster there, and spending is better controlled.
The situation is further complicated by mixed equipment. Some of it is outdated or not suited to Ukrainian conditions. Machines are often incompatible with each other. This creates problems with maintenance and training. Costs rise. Risks for deminers also increase.
Funding remains unstable. Donor support does not cover the needs. The state has limited resources. This leads to delays and procurement issues. Without a long-term funding model, demining will not accelerate.
Another weak point is prioritization. Not all land can be fully cleared. Decisions are often made without sufficient data. This reduces efficiency. New digital tools are only starting to work and have yet to deliver fast results.
The expert also points to inefficient approaches. Work is often carried out without a clear understanding of how the land will be used. This leads to unnecessary spending. Innovation can help, but it must be tested and applied based on evidence.
Overall, governance, equipment, funding, and planning problems continue to slow demining. Without systemic changes, the process will remain slow and costly.
Grants for demining technologies
