Out of the total demined area, 264 thousand hectares comprise agricultural land, with 218 thousand hectares already sown and harvested in the past year.
Minister Koval highlighted that there are currently 73 mine action operators active in the Ukrainian market. Additionally, a new mechanism has been established to fully compensate farmers for the costs associated with demining services. To date, over 50 agreements have been signed concerning agricultural land across four regions.
Koval emphasized the dual importance of not only clearing land of mines but also preparing the soil for agricultural use. “It is important not only to demine territories but also to ensure the cleaning of the soil for sowing crops. Therefore, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine continues to participate in the work on the demining of Ukrainian lands. Let me remind you that the overall goal of the Government, in accordance with the National Mine Action Strategy, is to return 80% of the territories that were directly affected by the war to use by 2033,” he stated.
Furthermore, it was reported that Ukraine is introducing a new standardization code for humanitarian demining, enhancing the effectiveness and safety of demining operations across the country.
