Poltava, Ukraine, 2 October 2025 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with funding from the Government of Japan, has delivered a comprehensive package of spare parts to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU). This support will help maintain and repair their humanitarian demining machines and is expected to ensure up to 10,000 hours of machine operation.

This support comes at a critical time, as the demand for maintenance and repair of mechanical demining equipment is growing. Since the start of the full-scale war, SESU’s fleet of humanitarian demining machines has expanded from none to more than 90 units.

The 18-ton package supplied includes essential high-wear components such as rotor mechanisms, chain hammers, and cutting teeth, which are crucial for soil processing and explosive ordnance neutralization. The parts will be stored and used at a specialized repair hub in Poltava, enabling SESU to carry out expert servicing and repairs across its fleet of demining machines deployed nationwide.

During the handover ceremony, representatives of the Embassy of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and UNDP visited the SESU hub in Poltava and viewed repairs of demining machines firsthand.

H.E. Masashi Nakagome, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine, emphasized that “mine action is a top priority of Japan’s assistance to Ukraine. Japan has been providing SESU with Japanese equipment and vehicles, renovating Vinnytsia Training Center, and introducing new demining technologies,” Nakagome said. “Today marks my first visit to this Repair Hub in Poltava, and I am truly impressed by its capabilities and the dedication of its team. Given the extremely hazardous conditions in which demining machines operate, strengthening SESU’s capacity for daily maintenance and repair is critical.”

SESU First Deputy Head Vitalii Myroniuk, also stressed the importance of this assistance. “Mechanized demining machines have made the work of our sappers safer. With their help, we have increased the efficiency of our personnel, accelerated the demining process, and cleared larger areas of formerly occupied territories, which can now contribute to Ukraine’s economic development,” Myroniuk said. We are grateful to the people and Government of Japan, as well as to UNDP, for your support and assistance. Every square meter of demined Ukrainian land brings us closer to victory.”

UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine Auke Lootsma reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to strengthening the national mine action system. “A reliable in-country hub for machine repairs, supported by a steady stock of spare parts, is crucial to ensure SESU can operate efficiently without relying on external suppliers,” Lootsma said. “Our goal is to make the most of the resources already available in Ukraine, maximizing their impact to return land to safe and productive use.”

Background:

UNDP is a development agency working to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience and recovery in the face of unprecedented challenges. UNDP works with the Ukrainian government to support all aspects of humanitarian mine action. With support from the Government of Japan, UNDP supplies critical equipment to SESU, conducts non-technical surveys to ensure safe recovery operations, and promotes innovation to accelerate mine action.

In July 2025, UNDP handed over six demining machines to the SESU under its multi-donor Mine Action Programme.

Media enquiries: 

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