“Ukraine is manufacturing its own demining and soil preparation machines,” stated Anna Hvozdyar, Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine.

She made this statement for Suspilne TV.

According to her, production of various types of machines for demining and soil preparation has been launched in Ukraine, with some machines already in use.

She also added that there is a high demand, primarily for equipment capable of detection—determining the state of contamination or mine presence on a particular territory.

Hvozdyar explained that Ukraine is already dealing with the first sample vehicles that should help in determining whether the area is contaminated or mined.

“Detection is a crucial aspect because the Russians used mines not only with metal detonators but also with wooden, textile, and plastic elements, and also without any metallic components, making them difficult to detect,” she added.

The Deputy Minister also stated that Ukraine needs different types of equipment for demining in different regions of the country. According to her, this is because the explosive devices and mines may behave differently in different soils in the northern and southern regions of Ukraine.

“There are three types [of such vehicles]: roller, hammer, and milling. Currently, there is one hammer-type machine in operation and being procured. They are already being produced in larger quantities and are operational. Preparation for the roller-type is also underway,” Hvozdyar stressed.

Anna Hvozdyar also added that Ukraine is also producing equipment for demining preparation. In August, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine reported that the first locally-made vehicle from the Kharkiv region had undergone testing and received certification. Among the advantages highlighted were its simple design, low costs of production and maintenance. Work is also underway on other projects.

The Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine also stressed that Ukraine is collaborating with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation to adapt civilian bulldozers for civilian demining.

On January 11, 2024, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense held a meeting of the international demining coalition of Ukraine, led by Lithuania. The meeting was attended by representatives of 25 countries, of which six joined remotely.

Vaidotas Urbelis, Director of the Defense Policy Department of the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania, noted that this was the first working meeting of the coalition “to clarify the needs of Ukraine in the field of mine action and the specific contribution of each of the coalition partner countries.”

Previously, Turkey refused to permit the transit of two British minesweepers through its waters to the Black Sea for deployment by Ukraine. The Ukrainian Navy had anticipated receiving two Sandown-class minehunters as part of an agreement between Ukraine and the UK, which was ratified in January 2022.