Drohobych, Lviv Oblast, 10 July 2025 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, in partnership with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), organized a two-day demonstration session of cutting-edge mine action technologies, showcasing innovations developed in both Japan and Ukraine. The event provided an opportunity for national stakeholders to explore and test advanced tools, including ground penetrating radar (GPR), drones, and systems using artificial intelligence.

The technical session was led by Professor Motoyuki Sato, a prominent Japanese scientist and inventor of the ALIS (Advanced Landmine Imaging System). This state-of-the-art device, supplied to the SESU by JICA in 2023, integrates metal detection and GPR capabilities to create a detailed underground image, enabling the detection of explosive remnants of war, including those with little or no metal content.

The session also included a demonstration of Japanese heavy demining machines, donated by JICA to the SESU. All demonstrations were carried out in simulated minefield conditions by SESU deminers who have direct experience using ALIS and the Japanese demining machines in real-life minefields in Ukraine.

Ukrainian innovation was also on display, with the Ukrainian organization UADamage presenting its AI-powered land scanning solution, which includes the use of GPR deployed by a drone. These technologies are currently being piloted as part of a joint initiative by UNDP and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine to foster Ukrainian innovations in mine action.

The event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Defence, National Police, National Mine Action Centre, and a range of international and national mine action operators, fostering the exchange of technical insights and practical feedback relating to the integration of such technologies into humanitarian mine action in Ukraine.

Hiroto Kamiishi, representative of JICA, welcomed the opportunity to showcase Japanese innovation, “We’re proud to introduce ALIS, a cutting-edge geo-sensor mine detector, to Ukraine’s humanitarian mine action community. It is a great honour to be joined by Professor Sato, who developed this technology, and to see it used in the Ukrainian context.”

Mykola Humeniuk, Deputy Head of the Emergency Response Department at SESU’s Main Directorate in Lviv Oblast, emphasized the importance of international partnerships, “We are grateful for the ongoing cooperation with JICA and UNDP. Their support significantly strengthens our demining capacity and helps ensure the safety of our demining teams, especially those working in the areas close to frontline.”

Edward Crowther, UNDP Field Operations Advisor for Mine Action in Ukraine, underscored the value of the featured technologies, “Ground penetrating radar is already a proven tool in other mine-affected countries. We believe it holds great potential in Ukraine to not only speed up humanitarian demining, but also to make it safer for the teams involved.”

About UNDP

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a development agency working to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience and recovery in the face of unprecedented challenges. As part of its response, UNDP leads a range of initiatives to address the country’s widespread explosive ordnance contamination. Through its Mine Action Programme, UNDP supports coordination, strategy development, and technical assistance, including the provision of modern equipment and the adoption of innovative technologies such as satellite imagery, drones, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence. In 2024 alone, nearly 4 million square metres of land were surveyed and released for productive use under UNDP-led efforts.

About JICA

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is the implementing arm of Japan's official development assistance. Its mission is to promote international cooperation and support socioeconomic development worldwide. Since 2022, JICA has supported emergency recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine, with mine action being one of its priority areas. Building on this commitment, JICA’s mine action pillar in Ukraine focuses on strengthening the country’s capacity in humanitarian demining through various initiatives, including the provision of specialized equipment, training, and support for national mine action organisations. The goal is to improve the efficiency and safety of demining operations, ultimately contributing to the safe return of affected populations to their land.

Media enquiries: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications and Advocacy; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org