UANMAC Commander Reviews Internal Training Progress at UDS
Colonel Yevhenii Biriukov, Head of the UA National Mine Action Center (UANMAC), reviewed the internal training process and qualification examinations of UDS deminers and their assistants.
The training program aimed to enhance staff qualifications in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)developed based on the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).
The training lasted three weeks, and the exams were conducted online. A total of 69 UDS employees participated in the program, including 40 deminers and 29 deminer assistants.
During the training, participants studied and practiced SOPs on:
- Non-technical survey
- Technical survey
- Manual demining and marking
- Mechanical demining using machines and equipment
🔰 The qualification exams were administered by a UDS commission chaired by Vasyl Kvashuk, Advisor to the General Director for Scientific and Technical Affairs, Ph.D. in Technical Sciences.
🔰 The commission included:
- Serhii Smyrnov – Deputy Head of the Humanitarian Demining Department “Center”
- Oleh Smal – Head of Mine Action Quality Management Department
- Yuliia Kavetska – Chief Medical Officer of the UDS Medical Support Department
- Yurii Tsykeniuk – Colonel of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES)
💬 “Knowledge and strict adherence to standard operating procedures are the foundation of a deminer’s professional responsibility. SOPs not only ensure safety but also guarantee the quality of each stage of operations. In high-risk areas, this is of critical importance.During the exams, we recorded several cases where individuals failed to demonstrate the required level of competence — their contracts will be terminated immediately. There is no room for error when lives are at stake,” said Serhii Smyrnov, Deputy Head of the Humanitarian Demining Department “Center”.
Colonel Yevhenii Biriukov commended the high level of training organization at UDS and emphasized the importance of a systematic approach to personnel preparation in the field of humanitarian demining.
🇺🇦 UDS applies a structured and consistent approach to personnel training, ensuring compliance with international standards and creating conditions for the continuous professional development of demining specialists.