In Ukraine, efforts to restore agriculture in areas contaminated with explosive ordnance are continuing. In 2025, international organisations, working alongside government bodies, expanded the scale of humanitarian demining and support for farmers, enabling some land to be returned to cultivation and livelihoods to be restored in frontline regions.
The extent of pollution and losses
The full-scale war has significantly transformed the country’s agricultural sector. Vast areas of farmland remain potentially unsafe for use. It is estimated that millions of hectares of land require surveying and clearance, which limits farmers’ access to resources and hampers production.
Losses to the agricultural sector are estimated at tens of billions of dollars. Contamination of land by mines and unexploded ordnance affects not only the economy but also public safety and people’s ability to return to their communities.
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Demining as the foundation for recovery
In 2025, the key focus was on combining demining with the restoration of agricultural production. Thanks to satellite analysis, over 1.6 million hectares of affected land across several regions were surveyed. Some of these areas were identified as priorities for clearance.
During the year, nearly 4,000 hectares were returned to cultivation. At the same time, surveys, technical clearance of areas and the marking of hazardous sites were carried out. This not only restored access to the land but also improved safety for hundreds of thousands of people.
Information campaigns on mine hazards played a key role, reaching almost half a million people.
Farmers returning to work
Once the land had been cleared, farmers were able to resume their activities. In the Kharkiv and Mykolaiv regions, hundreds of farms and thousands of households began cultivating their fields once again.
Financial support proved to be one of the key tools. Households received cash grants and vouchers to purchase seeds, fertilisers and equipment. The total amount of such support exceeded $6 million.
Some farmers were able to sow thousands of hectares, which had a direct impact on food security. Wheat and sunflower production is highly cost-effective, enabling local economies to recover more quickly.
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Impact on food security
The results of the recovery efforts are already having a tangible impact. The produce grown is sufficient to meet the food needs of hundreds of thousands of households. Part of the harvest is used for personal consumption, whilst the rest is sold at the market.
Households are also actively growing vegetables. The harvest of potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage and beetroot enables families to meet their basic needs throughout the year. This reduces dependence on humanitarian aid and strengthens the communities’ food self-sufficiency.
Resilience and economic recovery
Evaluations show that the majority of aid recipients report an improvement in their economic situation. A significant proportion of farmers are able to continue their activities thanks to the support received.
Satisfaction with the programmes remains high, and households report an increase in their resilience to crises. At the same time, the problem of landmines continues to restrict the full use of land.
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The environmental dimension and soil condition
A separate area of work concerns the analysis of soil conditions. Studies show that the overall impact of the war on soil quality remains limited, although in some cases contamination has been detected that requires further investigation.
In parallel, a national soil monitoring system is being developed to ensure the long-term recovery of the agricultural sector and the safe use of land.
Challenges and prospects
Despite the progress made, the situation remains challenging. Some areas remain inaccessible due to security restrictions, and ongoing hostilities are affecting the pace of demining. The high cost of resources and a lack of funding are also holding back progress.
Ukraine continues to expand the scale of demining with the aim of returning most agricultural land to use in the coming years. Not only economic recovery but also the stability of food systems depend on this effort.
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