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Ukraine Receives 16 Deep Tracker Drones to Boost Underwater Demining Efforts
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES) has received 16 Deep Tracker Revolution drones to support underwater demining operations across the country, the Ministry of Economy announced on May 30.
The remotely operated drones, designed for mine detection in both freshwater and marine environments, were procured by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) using funds provided by the governments of South Korea, France, and New Zealand.
Equipped with 4K cameras and dual sonar systems, the Deep Tracker drones enable precise underwater inspections. They operate via a 300-meter tether and are powered by lithium-ion batteries, offering up to three hours of runtime. A rapid charging system and interchangeable batteries allow SES teams to use the drones continuously throughout the workday.
"These drones are the eyes of our deminers underwater. With dual sonar and visual inspection cameras, they offer entirely new capabilities for detecting remnants of war in bodies of water. I’m very pleased that this project has come to fruition, as it was exactly one year ago that the idea to create an innovation platform for integrating various technological solutions into humanitarian demining was born at the Ministry of Economy," said Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Ihor Bezkaravainyi.
UNDP Ukraine’s Head of Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development, Mariia Guttsman, emphasized the need for innovation in humanitarian demining:
“Traditional methods are no longer sufficient—innovation has become essential to saving lives. UNDP is actively deploying cutting-edge solutions, from mine-detection dogs to AI-powered technologies. Today’s event marks another step toward high-tech underwater demining in Ukraine.”
Reportedly, 31 certified diver-demining specialists have completed training with the new equipment and will soon begin full-scale operations nationwide.
Deputy SES Chief Oleksii Mihrin noted that since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the number of certified diver-demining personnel has grown from 192 to over 500.
As of now, an estimated 138,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory remain potentially contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance. This includes approximately 13,500 square kilometers of rivers, lakes, flooded quarries, and maritime zones.
Earlier, it was reported that will soon deploy six THeMIS-based engineering drones, delivered by Estonia’s Milrem Robotics with backing from the French government.
The unmanned systems, known as ROCUS , are designed for the remote detection, identification, and neutralization of explosive devices, significantly increasing the safety and efficiency of demining operations.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
