The long-term development plan for Ukraine's demining capacity from 2024 to 2034 includes 700 million euros in funding from partners for equipment procurement.
This was discussed at the 11th session of the Demining Coalition, which took place in Vilnius, Lithuania, under the leadership of Lithuania and Iceland. The event was attended by 40 officials from 15 countries.
The Ukrainian delegation was headed by Colonel Ruslan Berehulya, Head of the Main Department of Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Major General Dmytro Hereha, Commander of the Support Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and Colonel Maksym Komisarov, Deputy Head of the State Special Transport Service, represented the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the State Special Transport Service, respectively.
"Over the last quarter of the previous year, material and technical supplies were purchased for 16.1 million euros. The 2025 budget is planned to be at 130 million euros. As of February, the Central Project Management Agency (CPMA, Republic of Lithuania) has already accumulated 51 million euros," emphasized Ruslan Berehulya.
He added that the Coalition members were interested in the experience of the Ministry of Defense, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and other components of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces gained during the three years of large-scale war. Specifically, Lithuania and Ukraine will create working groups to explore new methods for maintaining and servicing engineering barriers, innovations in demining activities, including the use of UAVs and artificial intelligence during non-technical surveys.
In addition, Colonel Ruslan Berehulya handed over the "Demining Capability Coalition Roadmap until 2035," approved by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, to the leading countries of the Coalition.
During the meeting, Major General Dmytro Hereha informed participants about the military-strategic situation and the current challenges Ukraine faces in demining. He also discussed how engineering equipment and technology, provided to the Ukrainian Armed Forces by partner countries, is being used in combat.
During discussions, priorities for the procurement of weapons, military equipment, and necessary supplies within the coalition for 2025 were agreed upon.
For reference: According to the Tony Blair Institute, annual losses in Ukraine due to mines and other explosive objects left by the Russians on Ukrainian territories amount to $11.2 billion.
