Ukraine’s demining needs for territories affected by the war amount to $29.8 billion. This is stated in the "Fourth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4)," conducted by the World Bank, the Government of Ukraine, the European Union, and the United Nations. Compared to the previous assessment, the estimated demining needs have decreased by $4.8 billion due to progress in surveying and clearing lands where hostilities took place.
“The reduction of humanitarian demining needs by nearly $5 billion reflects the enormous work carried out by the Ministry of Economy together with the Ministry of Defense, the State Emergency Service, private and international mine action operators, and other stakeholders. And we still have room for progress—the report’s authors note that the active development of innovations such as sensor technologies, aerial photography, and machine learning can further accelerate and reduce the cost of demining,” said First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko.
The assessment’s authors emphasize that since demining will take decades, it is crucial to develop long-term institutional capacity and foster partnerships with international organizations engaged in mine action. The document recommends expanding the use of innovations and ensuring long-term investments in the humanitarian demining sector.
Background:
RDNA4 (Fourth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment), conducted by the World Bank, the Government of Ukraine, the European Union, and the United Nations, builds on the previous three joint assessments and incorporates additional analytical studies. The report includes the “Build Back Better” (BBB) approach and principles of green, sustainable, and inclusive reconstruction.
Like previous assessments, RDNA4 analyzes the war’s impact on vulnerable groups (internally displaced persons, veterans, people with disabilities, etc.) and outlines short-term recovery priorities for 2025. It aligns with reforms and investments within the Ukraine Facility and Ukraine’s EU integration efforts.
A full assessment of war-related damages will only be possible once Ukraine regains access to all its territories and can conduct a comprehensive survey, particularly in the field of humanitarian demining.
