The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Enhancing safety and recovery in Ukraine
With funding from the government of France, UNOPS is working with a certified mine action operator and Ukraine’s National Police to help reduce the threat of explosive ordnance in the Chernihiv region.
- This article was originally published on 04 April 2024.
Project updates
02 September 2024
The project has closed, having fully equipped two explosive ordnance disposal teams at the National Police in the Chernihiv oblast – including vehicles, personal protective items, and demining tools worth around $500,000.
48 demining operators working for the National Police of Ukraine received training to enhance their skills in dealing with explosive ordnance.
As part of the project, the Humanitarian Demining Center of Ukroboronservice surveyed over 1,000 hectares of land in the Chernihiv oblast, confirming that 788 hectares were clear of explosive ordnance .
Ukroboronservice undertook battle area clearance for over 220 hectares of contaminated land and disposed of over 500 items of explosive ordnance. For some of this land, inspection and validation by relevant authorities will extend beyond the project’s lifespan. The cleared land can return to productive use, and communities can be sure that it is safe.
8 July 2024
The Humanitarian Demining Center of Ukroboronservice received 11 certificates from the National Mine Action Authority, signifying that the land in the Chernihiv region it worked on has been cleared of explosive items. These certificates legally validate the clearance, allowing land to be used for farming once again. Demining efforts continue, with more certificates expected over the coming months.
7 June 2024
UNOPS delivered 6 heavy duty EOD suits, 6 metal detectors, 2 portable X-ray systems and 2 pickup trucks, as well as radios, medical supplies, charging stations and other equipment, worth nearly $380,000 to the National Police of Ukraine.
Police EOD experts in the Chernihiv region will use the equipment to locate and dispose of explosive items, helping to protect local communities
The Chernihiv region of Ukraine lies north of the capital, Kyiv, and borders Belarus and Russia. The region is integral to Ukraine's agricultural sector and has faced daunting challenges due to the presence of explosive remnants of war (ERW) leftover following the Russian invasion that began in February 2022. Vast tracts of agricultural land are now laden with mines and ERWs, crippling the region's economic activity and posing severe safety risks to communities.
Clearing our land of explosives is a priority, since it is the cornerstone for addressing a number of issues, such as economic activity, mobility and access to infrastructure.
“There are a number of mine action operators now present in the region, including international ones, but there is still plenty of work to be done,” added Viacheslav Chaus.
To address the issue, UNOPS, with funding from the government of France, is working with the Humanitarian Demining Center of Ukroboronservice – a Ukrainian state-owned entity with extensive experience in humanitarian demining activities around the world. The co-operation focuses on Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), clearing a variety of EO threats. Three EOD teams have been deployed across the Chernihiv region. Their job is to make sure these harmful items are found and safely removed from the area. The work enables the official procedure of land release, removing physical and legal barriers to productive land use, and will allow farmers to safely work the land again.
In addition, with the support of the government of France, UNOPS is strengthening the technical and operational capabilities of the National Police of Ukraine in the Chernihiv region. This includes providing training and tools to the police to enhance their capacity to find and safely manage explosives – improving safety in the area.
By creating a safer environment, enabling the return of the agricultural sector and other businesses, the project supports Ukraine’s ongoing recovery.
"A safer, more prosperous future for the people of Ukraine is the cornerstone of our mission,” explained Tim Lardner, Director of UNOPS Multi-Country Office in Ukraine.
“Through this partnership, we are not just clearing land; we are rebuilding lives and livelihoods. The support from the government of France, combined with the expertise of Ukroboronservice and the National Police of Ukraine, will enable us to tackle these challenges and ensure the agricultural community can return to their livelihoods, safely and securely,” he added.
