UNHDA Praises UDS for Its Outstanding Work
Oleksii Botnarenko, First Deputy Head of the Ukrainian National Humanitarian Demining Association (UNHDA), praised the work of UDS during a demonstration event in Kyiv region, where he reviewed the company’s demining activities and results in the field.
💬 “We began close cooperation with UDS in 2024. Since then, our joint efforts in humanitarian demining have proven to be both effective and productive.UDS is the largest national commercial mine action operator in Ukraine, carrying out demining operations continuously — 365 days a year. The company specializes in mechanical demining, holds the country’s largest portfolio of certified processes, and consistently delivers exceptional results across all stages — from surveying to explosive ordnance destruction. This is a true example of a responsible and highly professional approach in this complex yet vital field,” said Oleksii Botnarenko.
🤝 Together with the UNHDA team, Oleksii is actively working to unite mine action operators in their efforts to clear contaminated land and ensure the safety of Ukrainian citizens.
As of the end of 2024, UDS employed 270 personnel, including 30% women and 35% veterans. The company operates 23 demining teams, including 193 certified deminers, with approximately €7 million invested in team equipment and readiness.
Over the past year, UDS has achieved the following:
- Conducted non-technical survey across 5,500 hectares
- Cleared 1,630 hectares of land
- Destroyed 28,000 explosive items, including anti-vehicle and anti-personnel mines, as well as unexploded ordnance
- Held 120 awareness sessions and 92 first aid training courses focused on blast injuries, reaching over 4,300 people in five regions of Ukraine
- Signed 79 contracts and established partnerships with 15 territorial communities
In 2024, UDS officially joined UNHDA. The decision was made by the company’s Supervisory Board, chaired by Jaroslav Naď, former Minister of Defence of Slovakia, a seasoned diplomat with over 20 years of experience in the security sector and a representative of Slovakia to NATO, the EU, and the Ramstein Contact Group.
Oleksandr Romaniuk, UDS Director of Economics, emphasized the importance of participating in industry-wide initiatives:
💬 “Every actor in the demining sector faces certain challenges. Only through collective efforts and coordinated actions can we overcome them, make the market transparent and understandable, and achieve significant impact. By uniting, we will clear Ukraine of explosive remnants of war faster and more effectively — saving lives and making our land safe for generations to come.”
🔎 Background:UNHDA is a non-governmental organization that brings together companies engaged in mine action. Its mission is to support the rapid and high-quality clearance of Ukrainian territory from mines and explosive remnants of war — a goal fully aligned with UDS’s vision.