The UNITED24 platform, together with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Humanitarian Demining Center, has launched a large-scale fundraising campaign aimed at raising $1.5 million for the demining of key sites in three Ukrainian regions. The targeted areas include the Vysokopil Hospital in Kherson region, the Fenovytske and Makaryvske forestry in Kyiv region, and a school, kindergarten, park, and playgrounds in the village of Hrakove in Chuhuiv district, Kharkiv region. All of these sites were heavily affected by Russian occupation and now require clearance of explosive devices left behind by the invaders.
For example, in the village of Hrakove, 90% of the territory was mined. During the demining operation, 178 PFM-1 butterfly mines were found in one household.
“Humanitarian demining in Ukraine is much more than just returning land to use. It’s about restoring life, ensuring people’s safety. The unprecedented scale of contamination by dangerous remnants of war demands unprecedented solutions. We have created a humanitarian demining market, launched a compensation program for farmers, and are implementing innovations. Everyone can help Ukraine tackle this challenge and accelerate the demining process today. Because together, we are stronger,” said Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Yulia Svyrydenko.
Ukraine is currently the most mined country in the world, with over 138,000 square kilometers of its territory potentially contaminated. This poses a significant threat to people living in these regions and limits economic and social activities. Ukraine loses $11.5 billion annually due to mined fields, primarily due to the reduction in agricultural exports, which can exacerbate global hunger issues.
Mined areas also pose a significant risk to local children.
“Children have a natural curiosity about anything they find, and what looks like a toy could be an explosive device. This also presents a threat,” said Kateryna Prymak, a humanitarian demining expert.
So far, over 35,000 square kilometers of land have been cleared for use, including lands cleared under the state compensation program for demining agricultural lands.
Since its inception, the UNITED24 platform has been collecting funds to support the demining of Ukrainian territories and has engaged its ambassadors, including Timothy Snyder, Misha Collins, Mark Hamill, and others. To join the "Step by Step" fundraising campaign and help clear more Ukrainian land from Russian mines, visit: https://u24.gov.ua/uk/step-by-step?utm_source=ministry-of-economy&utm_medium=sm&utm_campaign=step-by-step.
