October this year was very intense in terms of international events for the Ukrainian Deminers Association. But this is exactly the case when intensity is beneficial, as the participation of Ukrainian representatives in key global events confirms the consistency of support for Ukraine and strengthens the role of national operators in forming global security policy.
UMAC 2025 in Tokyo: strengthening of international support for Ukraine
On October 22-23, Tokyo hosted the UMAC 2025 conference, one of the key international platforms dedicated to Ukraine. The event brought together representatives of 57 countries, international organizations, and partners supporting Ukraine’s recovery process.
According to the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, more than $80 million in international support for demining has been announced this year. Donors include Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and Sweden. Japan, as the host country, presented a new package of long-term assistance for Ukraine’s recovery, and Czech Republic confirmed funding for new projects in the field of humanitarian demining.
Tymur Pistriuha, Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian Deminers Association, emphasized the importance of the scale of the event and international presence:
“A special feature of this year’s conference was its international scale. The very fact that an event dedicated to Ukraine took place far beyond Europe is of strategic importance. Among the participants were representatives of powerful mine action systems from Cambodia, Azerbaijan, Angola, Colombia, and other countries. At the same time, Ukraine’s presence this time was less than in Lausanne or Zagreb.”
According to him, the most valuable part of the participation was the numerous meetings and negotiations with partners. Some of the agreements will be made public after finalization.
GICHD Innovation Conference 2025 in Luxembourg
On October 28-30, Luxembourg hosted the GICHD Innovation Conference 2025, one of the leading events in the field of humanitarian demining. The conference brought together more than 400 participants from 70 countries and over 240 organizations, and its program covered key areas of development in the sector: innovation, technology, land and underwater demining processes, localization, and experience sharing.
Special focus was placed on modern technologies, including robotics, multi-sensor systems, and the application of artificial intelligence. This year’s GICHD Innovation Award was presented to a consortium of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Cambodian Mine Action Centre, and NEC Laboratories Europe GmbH for their project “AI-Powered Landmine Risk Mapping,” which demonstrates the potential of artificial intelligence to accelerate humanitarian demining.
For Ukraine, participation in such events is an opportunity not only to gain expertise, but also to contribute to the development of modern approaches, expand international cooperation, and share its own experience. During the conference, Head of the UDA held a series of bilateral meetings with international partners, which led to the signing of memoranda of cooperation.
Kyiv: round table on advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities caused by war
On October 17, a round table discussion entitled “Prioritizing Advocacy Issues for Persons with War-Related Disabilities” was held in Kyiv, organized by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) with the support of the German Foreign Ministry as part of the VA WG’s activities.
The event was dedicated to identifying key areas of advocacy for people who have become disabled as a result of the war. During the discussions, attention was focused on:
- improving the procedure for granting status;
- strengthening the inclusion of victims;
- barriers and challenges in the labor market;
- creating a barrier-free environment.
UDA, which has one of the most extensive practical experiences in supporting Mine Victim Assistance (MVA), joined the discussions and presented its achievements in supporting, engaging, and protecting the rights of people with disabilities.
Stockholm and Rome: UDA participation in international humanitarian initiatives
As part of expanding international cooperation, representatives of UDA participated in important specialized events in Europe.
In Stockholm, UDA Operations Manager Iryna Kustovska took part in the Swedish-Ukrainian Business Conference: Strategic Partnership for Recovery and Growth, as well as in the discussion “Clearing the Path to Recovery: The Economics of Humanitarian Demining and Ukraine’s Reconstruction,” dedicated to the economic aspects of humanitarian demining and the role of national operators in reconstruction.
In Rome, UDA Project Manager Iryna Hutsalo joined the humanitarian congress “Humanitarianism Under Attack: The Future of Principled Aid After the Backlash,” which was dedicated to the future of humanitarian aid in the context of global challenges. During the trip, a meeting was held with representatives of INTERSOS on the practical implementation of a joint project, including the purchase of Italian-made equipment for humanitarian demining.
Technological cooperation support
UDA took part in TechBridge x Sikorsky Innovation Challenge: Innovation for Humanitarian Demining, which was held at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. The event was organized by Sikorsky Challenge, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, the UK Government, and the UK Ukraine TechBridge platform.
During the plenary session, the Association was among the key participants, along with representatives of the UNIDO humanitarian demining project, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Environment and Agrarian Policy of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, and other partners.
The Association was part of the jury for the startup competition, where it provided expert assessment of technological solutions in the field of mine action. The innovative developments of Japanese teams attracted considerable interest, opening up opportunities for potential cooperation in the implementation of the latest technologies for humanitarian demining in Ukraine.
British Parliamentary Group: Working Together on Training Grounds
In October, UDA, in collaboration with the British All-Party Parliamentary Group on Explosive Weapons and Their Impact, visited three different mine clearance training locations — MAG–APOPO, The HALO Trust Ukraine, and Safe Lane Global — and participated in a specialized conference in Kyiv.
Among the innovations presented, a new type of explosive with so-called “magic powder” attracted particular attention — effective in application, easy to use, and promising for wider implementation.
Ukraine is making rapid progress in the field of mine action, and such visits and knowledge exchanges play an important role in strengthening our capabilities.
Summary
October’s activities demonstrate Ukraine’s consistent efforts to strengthen international partnerships, develop innovations, and improve the effectiveness of humanitarian demining. The UDA’s participation in international events contributes to:
- expanding cooperation with key partners;
- bringing in resources and technologies;
- the exchange of experience with countries that have a long history of overcoming mine threats;
- the formation of modern recovery policies at the global level.
The Ukrainian Deminers Association continues to work on strengthening its role in the international mine action ecosystem and creating conditions for the safe and sustainable recovery of Ukraine’s territories.
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