SAUEZ and UDS Signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Humanitarian Demining of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone
Today, the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management (SAUEZ) and Ukrainian Demining Services LLC (UDS) signed a Memorandum of Partnership and Cooperation in the field of humanitarian demining of the territories within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.
The partnership was formalized with the signatures of Acting Head of SAUEZ Volodymyr Feshchenko and Deputy General Director of UDS Volodymyr Beshlei.
The Memorandum aims to implement joint actions in the field of mine action to enhance the safety of personnel, rescuers, and firefighters working in the Exclusion Zone, as well as to prevent environmental risks. The parties agreed to carry out humanitarian demining of forest areas, roads, and firebreaks, conduct awareness campaigns for workers on the risks associated with explosive remnants of war, and engage donor support for demining projects.
💬 “Our main task is to ensure the safety of firefighters, rescuers, ecologists, and workers who perform their duties in the Exclusion Zone every day. We have a large team — more than 250 sappers operating in various regions, including Mykolaiv and Kharkiv. We also have specialized remotely operated GERMINA demining machines, which are ready to carry out humanitarian demining operations. Our team is also prepared to conduct risk education for Zone personnel — UDS is certified to perform this type of training. We are already in talks with international donors to attract the necessary resources for this project. We understand that this is a matter of environmental safety. The main threat to the Zone is wildfires, and unless we clear the roads, firebreaks, and access routes, fire and rescue equipment simply will not be able to operate effectively. This is our top priority. There is a lot of work ahead, but it is both important and necessary,” — said Volodymyr Beshlei, Deputy General Director of UDS.
🟩 Background information:
The territory of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone was occupied by Russian forces on the first day of the full-scale invasion — February 24, 2022 — and liberated in March of the same year. After de-occupation, only limited combat and operational demining was conducted in the area.
Explosive remnants of war remain a constant threat to firefighters, rescuers, and workers operating in the Chornobyl Zone.
Over the past 11 years, the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone has experienced the largest wildfires in its history:
🔴 2015 — area of 16.9 thousand hectares
🔴 2020 — area of 67.5 thousand hectares
🔴 2022 — area of 9 thousand hectares
🔴 2024 — area of 7.4 thousand hectares
These fires not only cause severe environmental damage but also pose risks of secondary release of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, which could have consequences not only for Ukraine but for all of Europe.
The contamination of the area with explosive remnants of war significantly complicates firefighting efforts and preventive measures, as the work of rescuers and firefighters in such conditions remains extremely dangerous.
As of July 2023, there have been around eight incidents involving explosions affecting both vehicles and personnel, including State Emergency Service firefighters and military servicemen. These incidents resulted in injuries, multiple fatalities, and damage to equipment.