A course for training sappers at EOD levels 1-3, which meet international demining standards, has been introduced in Ukraine.

According to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the training will be conducted by the veterans of NATO member states.

The specialists of the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine will improve their qualifications in accordance with international mine action standards (IMAS).

The implementation of this project was made possible due to the financial support of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The representatives of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have already held a working meeting to launch the course.

During the event, the head of the mine action department – deputy head of the Main Department of Mine Action, Civil Protection and Environmental Safety, Colonel Oleh Shuvarskyi, emphasized that the course was an important stage in the training of specialists in the detection and neutralization of explosive objects.

He also stressed that about 139,000 km² of Ukrainian territory were potentially contaminated with explosive objects.

The enemy is actively using modern engineering munitions not only against the Armed Forces of Ukraine but also against the civilian population.

“The enemy mines infrastructure facilities, critical facilities, and agricultural land. Therefore, it is especially important that during this course, our specialists will receive not only theoretical knowledge and practical skills but also study the experience of partner countries and our security and defense forces. This will allow us to perform the assigned tasks qualitatively and safely, ensure the safety of the civilian population and our fellow citizens,” Oleh Shuvarskyi noted.

He also reported that humanitarian demining of the deoccupied territories in Ukraine was carried out exclusively by mine action operators.

Currently, the national capacity for government mine action operators has grown significantly, with 23 such units now in operation, including those from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Security Service of Ukraine, and the State Emergency Service.

Another 25 government organizations are undergoing certification and will soon also join this work.

On March 8, it was reported about the production of modern French SDZ demining machines for Ukraine.