UDS is celebrating its first year!

Today, September 8th, the national demining operator "UDS" celebrates its first anniversary.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our professional team for their selfless work, support, and unwavering belief in our shared cause. I also want to thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine for their service and for providing us with the opportunity to work.

I vividly recall the formation of our team a year ago, when we collectively envisioned, planned, and shaped our future.We have successfully achieved all of our annual goals and, in many areas, exceeded our expectations.

This year has been extraordinary - ambitious, challenging, intense, and fulfilling. We have become industry leaders, not only due to our advanced technologies and standards, but also thanks to the professionalism and dedication of our team.Our highly skilled sappers and engineers are the heart of our company.

Today, UDS is one of the leading humanitarian demining organizations. We are more than just a company; we are close friends and a large family. Over the past year, we have grown and expanded significantly. Today, UDS employs 144 people, 112 of whom are sappers.

We have established 11 demining teams:

1. 3 non-technical survey teams
2. 7 humanitarian demining teams equipped with remote-controlled demining machines
3. A team for the destruction of unexploded ordnance
4. An underwater demining and special diving team

We have successfully undergone rigorous certification processes, proving our compliance with standards in all major humanitarian demining operations:

1. Non-technical survey
2. Technical survey
3. Mechanical demining
4. Manual demining
5. Clearance of battlefields
6. Disposal of mines and unexploded ordnance
7. Informing the public about mine risks
8. Underwater demining (certification in progress)

We have successfully obtained certification for:

1. Quality management systems according to the international standard ISO 9001:2015 and the standard AQAP 2110:2016 ("NATO requirements for design, development and production")
2. Environmental management systems according to the international standard ISO 14001:2015
3. Occupational health and safety management systems according to the standard ISO 45001:2018

UDS operates in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Donetsk regions.

To date, we have:

1. Conducted 11 public information events on the risks associated with mines and unexploded ordnance
2. Completed non-technical surveys of nearly 4,500 hectares (with 310 validated reports)
3. Demined/cleared 170 hectares of valuable Ukrainian land

Over the past year, thanks to our acquired experience, equipment, and the use of 7 Bozena remote-controlled demining machines, we have developed the capacity to demine 20 hectares per day.

We have achieved a great deal and have much to be proud of. This would not have been possible without the support of our families. Therefore, I would like to express special thanks to the families of UDS employees, who always support us,patiently endure our complete immersion in work, and understand that our work is not only about safety but also about our shared future!

New challenges lie ahead, but we are not afraid of ambitious goals. We have already proven that we can become leaders,and now it is time to reach a new level. It is time to realize our leadership and fulfill our mission - to bring war-torn lands back to life.

Oleksandr Liiev.