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NATO Veterans to Train Ukrainian Sappers in Landmine Clearance

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Ivan_khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
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NATO Veterans to Train Ukrainian Sappers in Landmine Clearance
A Ukrainian sapper searches for unexploded shells in a wheat field near Zaporizhzhia. (Source: Getty Images)

A new training program for Ukrainian sappers is set to launch with instruction from veterans of NATO member state armies.

The initiative, aimed at enhancing the qualifications of Ukraine’s security and defense forces, will follow the International Mine Action Standards, according to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on March 17.

The project is supported financially by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Representatives from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have already held a working meeting to discuss the course’s implementation.

According to Colonel Oleh Shuvarskyi, Deputy Head of the Main Department for Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety, the training will cover explosive ordnance disposal at levels 1-3. The objective is to provide Ukrainian personnel with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills while integrating best practices from partner nations.

A Ukrainian sapper operates an unmanned demining vehicle in Velyka Oleksandrivka, a settlement heavily mined by Russian forces during the occupation. (Source: Getty Images)
A Ukrainian sapper operates an unmanned demining vehicle in Velyka Oleksandrivka, a settlement heavily mined by Russian forces during the occupation. (Source: Getty Images)

Ukraine currently faces extensive contamination from explosive hazards, with an estimated 139,000 square kilometers of its territory affected. Russian forces continue to deploy advanced engineering munitions, targeting not only military units but also civilian infrastructure, critical facilities, and agricultural land.

Shuvarskyi emphasized that humanitarian demining in liberated areas is conducted exclusively by certified mine action operators.

Ukraine’s national mine action capacity has significantly expanded, with 23 government entities, including the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, already engaged in operations. An additional 25 organizations are undergoing certification to join mine clearance efforts.

Earlier, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine introduced NATO-standard protective gear for its service dogs, including boots and goggles designed to safeguard them from sharp objects, landmines, and debris.

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