For many years, the Ukrainian Deminers Association (UDA) has been not only a mine action operator, but also an organization that stands by the side of those affected by explosive ordnance (EO). The year 2025 is another challenge for us and for the entire country, but together with our partners and communities, we continue to do what is important: providing comprehensive assistance that includes financial, psychological and legal support.
This year, in cooperation with international partners such as UN OCHA, Canada-Ukraine Foundation, International Rescue Committee in Ukraine and Global Giving, the UDA continues to provide comprehensive assistance to citizens affected by the war remnants.
Behind every number is a story
In the first quarter of 2025, we received over 250 new appeals from people affected by explosive ordnance. These are not just reports in tables – these are lives.
One of them is the story of Ms. Karina from Kharkiv region, who was injured by a Pelyustka mine. Thanks to the efforts of our team, she has gone through the first stages of recovery. And we are confident that a new life lies ahead. You can learn more about Karina’s story in the video on our Facebook page.
Another story of Ms. Liubov, one of our beneficiaries. She suffered losses as a result of the war, but did not lose faith in life. Thanks to the financial assistance she received from the UDA and our partner IRC, she managed to buy the most necessary things in this difficult time. You can watch Liubov’s words of gratitude in the video here.
Mrs. Ksenia from Sloviansk is 26. She is the mother of a three-year-old child. During the shelling, she was seriously injured: burns over 50% of her body, head and spine injuries, and a leg amputation. Now she is bedridden, but she is not giving up.
Ksenia dreams of being with her son again. To give love, care, and hugs. And every day she takes a step towards it.
The UDA team provided Ksenia with financial assistance to ease her path to recovery. We believe that she has a new life ahead of her, with warmth and loved ones by her side.
Each of these stories shows how important support is for people who have faced the consequences of war.
Our position is clear: the help should not stop even when the cameras are off and the news has switched to another disaster. A person after an encounter with an EO is not just an “incident” but a person with a trauma who deserves a decent return to life.
Special cases that inspire
The first quarter of 2025 was memorable for another story – about love amidst the rubble. A man who suffered from a drone explosion and a woman who survived a shelling met during treatment. Thanks to the support of the UDA, he returned to work, and she returned to farming. And then… they got married. Yes, even in war, there is a place for happiness – and we are sincerely happy to be a part of this story. Read more about the love story in our social media.
Mapping and access to services
This year we launched a large-scale project to map available services for victims in the Izium (Kharkiv region) and Bashtanka (Mykolaiv region) communities. The main activities of this project are aimed at finding the real needs of people: where there is a lack of medical, legal, and psychological services and how to fix it. This is the first such project for our organization, and if it proves effective, we plan to expand the provision of such assistance to other communities and regions.
The goal is simple: no wounded person should be left without help just because they don’t know where to get it or live on the periphery.
How to apply for help
If you or your loved ones have been injured by mines or unexploded ordnance, the UDA will do everything possible to help. Fill out a special form on our website and we will contact you.
A mine doesn’t choose whom it injures or maims. But we can choose whether to leave a person with an injury alone or to support them. We always choose the latter and do it every day. We continue to work to support those who need it!
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