More than two thousand hectares of agricultural land have been returned to use by demining operators since the launch of the state compensation program for demining costs. In particular, in May, six contracts were closed totaling nearly 35 million hryvnias. These cover six plots with a total area of 626.7 hectares: three in Mykolaiv region, two in Kharkiv region, and one in Kyiv region.
“For me, it is especially valuable that we are returning plots such as those in the Shevchenkivska community in Kharkiv region to use. These 86 hectares were the first to be put up for auction by the Humanitarian Demining Center last autumn, and the first contract was signed with an operator there. In just over six months, sappers have removed 64 explosive devices here: unguided aviation rockets, artillery shells, mortar mines, unexploded cluster munitions. This was practically a field of death, and now this plot will be sown with crops. It is very important that farmers who have cleared part of their lands under the program are submitting other potentially contaminated fields for demining, because they see that the mechanism works,” noted Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Ihor Bezkharavynyi.
Since the program started, a total of 19 contracts have been closed and 2,025 hectares of agricultural land cleared. This includes 1,224 hectares in Kyiv region, 501 hectares in Mykolaiv, 279 hectares in Kharkiv, and 21 hectares in Kherson region. The Humanitarian Demining Center has transferred over 107 million hryvnias to demining operators for their work.
The state compensates 100% of the demining costs for agricultural producers who decided to clear their lands after April 15, 2024. The land will be cleared by a certified demining operator who meets the specified conditions and offered the lowest price in an auction held on the Prozorro system. To inform as many farmers as possible about this opportunity, the Ministry of Economy, together with the Humanitarian Demining Center and UNDP Ukraine, with support from the Government of the Republic of Korea, launched a communication campaign. In particular, there is a website with step-by-step instructions on how to participate in the program.
