At the Kiel Munition Clearance Week, the Ukrainian delegation presented its developments and emphasized the urgent need for underwater demining.
Ukraine participated for the first time in the Kiel Munition Clearance Week — an international forum dedicated to clearing naval areas of munitions and protecting critical infrastructure. This was reported by the Ukrainian Arms Council.
The event took place in the German city of Kiel and gathered representatives from NATO, the European Commission, scientific institutions, armies, and the defense industry. The Ukrainian delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Defense as well as the company Toloka, which showcased its own underwater demining technology — a solution already ready for deployment. The stand of the Ukrainian manufacturer was one of the most visited at the forum.
A separate panel discussion focused on the challenges Ukraine faces in the maritime sector.
In Ukraine, there are over 100 mine clearance operators, but fewer than ten are certified and experienced in underwater demining. Some key figures:
- 13,500 km² of potentially contaminated waters
- Over 8,000 documented environmental crimes
- More than €80 billion in preliminary environmental losses
- Thousands of victims, blocked ports, and destroyed critical infrastructure
“Underwater demining is one of the most complex and expensive security areas. For Ukraine, it is critically necessary. Without clearing the seas, neither port restoration nor full-scale export is possible,” the Ukrainian Arms Council emphasized.
Currently, Ukraine has over 100 registered mine clearance operators, but only a few are certified for work on water. Forum participants discussed the need to strengthen international support for large-scale clearance of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
