Croatia to help demine Ukraine: Memorandum signed

Photo: Ukraine and Croatia signed a memorandum on demining assistance (facebook.com/nmaa.ukraine)

Croatia will help Ukraine with demining. The countries signed a memorandum on Tuesday, May 14, according to the Main Directorate of Mine Action, Civil Protection and Environmental Safety of Ukraine.

As noted, the memorandum was signed between the Center of Excellence for Mine Action and Environmental Safety of Ukraine and the Croatian Mine Action Center on the sidelines of the 27th Annual International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors and United Nations Advisers in Geneva.

The Memorandum provides for, in particular:

・exchange of experience in the field of humanitarian demining;

・cooperation in the implementation of innovative projects in the field of technologies and techniques for detecting explosive hazards;

・development of joint training programs and initiatives to enhance the qualification of humanitarian demining specialists;

・strengthening advocacy and public awareness of international standards and best practices in humanitarian demining.

"The choice of Croatia as a partner is not accidental. This Balkan country has experienced significant contamination with explosive hazards as a result of hostilities in the 1990s. Clearance efforts are still ongoing there but are expected to be completed by next year. Therefore, Croatia's experience is truly invaluable for Ukraine," the management stated.

Mine clearance in Ukraine

Due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and active hostilities, more than a quarter of Ukraine's territory is contaminated with mines and explosive devices.

In April 2023, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that Ukraine was launching a new state policy on humanitarian demining and called on other countries to help in this area.

Ukraine also created a demining corps. The task will be performed by 5,000 specialists in the de-occupied territories.

In addition, Ukraine plans to engage more women in demining.