Underwater demining standards are being developed in ukraine: uds to join the working group

Today, a working meeting took place in Kyiv at the office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, organized by the Main Directorate for Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The meeting focused on consolidating the practical experience of mine action operators and developing methodological recommendations for underwater demining.

Representatives of government authorities, international partners, and non-governmental mine action operators participated in the discussion. UDS was represented at the meeting by Technical Director Eduard Drach.

Participants discussed practical experience in underwater demining operations, key challenges faced by operators, and approaches to the use of technical equipment and the organization of operations, taking into account safety and seasonal constraints.

In turn, UDS Technical Director Eduard Drach presented the company’s capabilities.

💬 “We have three underwater demining teams and our own specialized vessel equipped with a hyperbaric chamber. Our team is capable of conducting non-technical survey of up to 1,000 hectares per year and clearing more than 100 hectares of water areas.

Currently, UDS diver-deminers have already conducted a non-technical survey of approximately 60 hectares of the Buzko-Dniprovsko-Lymanskyi Canal — a strategically important critical infrastructure facility. We have ambitious plans and continue to develop our capabilities,” said UDS Technical Director Eduard Drach.

Particular attention was given to the development of national standards for underwater demining, including training procedures for diver-deminers, qualification requirements, and the organization of operations.

As a result of the meeting, the creation of a specialized working group to develop national standards and methodological recommendations was initiated, with UDS specialists set to join the group.

“Participation in the working group will allow us to apply UDS’s practical experience and contribute to the development of effective national underwater demining standards in Ukraine,” emphasized Eduard Drach.

UDS is certified for underwater demining operations and already has practical experience in conducting non-technical surveys. In particular, as part of the implementation of the first underwater demining contract in Ukraine, UDS diver-deminers conducted a non-technical survey of 60 hectares of the Buzko-Dniprovsko-Lymanskyi Canal. Additionally, last year, at the request of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, the UDS team developed the technical assignment for surveying the canal.