For the first time, 38 participants from 13 countries and 4 partner organisations have gathered at the Kamianets-Podilskyi – Ukrainian main Engineer training fortress, at the 17th Demining capabilities coalition meeting. Two years since its launch in November 2023, the Demining Coalition has evolved into a major international platform supporting Ukraine in key areas of both humanitarian and combat demining.
Ukraine remains the most mined country on Earth: one-third of its territory contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance. These deadly weapons endanger civilians, delay the reconstruction of vital infrastructure, and prevent farmers from returning to some of Europe’s most fertile lands. Today Ukraine needs both: to demine the frontline areas for continuing a successful counteroffensive as well as demining the de-occupied territories, the clearing of farming lands, forests, rivers, industrial infrastructure such as electric lines, railroads, roads, pipelines and many other civilian and military facilities and objects.
The Demining Coalition includes 23 countries, five observers, and twelve partners. It is led by Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence and Iceland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The CPVA is responsible for procurement, financial administration, and delivery of equipment to Ukraine.
The long-term plan “ROADMAP 2024-2034” has been approved to develop modern, NATO‑interoperable and self‑sustaining humanitarian and combat demining and/or engineering units with appropriate structures, doctrine, training and capabilities. By the end of 2025 the initial capabilities – 8 battalions to be trained and equipped with modern equipment allowing more than 450 teams to conduct demining tasks under very challenging combat conditions.
Nearly 3990 personnel have been trained with support from European Union Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine, Tetra Tech (US), Mriya Aid (Canada) and Spain. More than 408 million worth equipment has been donated by 8 countries / partners: Germany, Lithuania, Denmark, Slovakia, Finland, Iceland, Tetra Tech (USA), United Nations Office for Project Services (Netherlands funding) and Mriya Aid (Canada).
More than 111 million EUR worth equipment with contribution from Lithuania, Sweden, Germany, Iceland, Ireland and Denmark has been procured: off-road vehicles, ambulances, blasting machines, personal anti-drone devices, night vision equipment, drone mitigation systems, mine detectors, trucks, Explosive Ordnance Disposal kits, mine-resistant armoured personal carriers, mine rollers, and more to come.
Since 2023, Lithuanian contribution to the Coalition has been significant with 47 million EUR to the fund and 87 million EUR in donated equipment.
We are deeply grateful to our active coalition members, partners and friends whose commitment has strengthened the Coalition. Thanks to their support, thousands of equipment units, vehicles, and demining systems have already been delivered to Ukraine – tools that will help save thousands of lives and bring the country one step closer to recovery.
