Locations‘Clearing the soil’
In another life, 25-year-old Karina might have been covering these stories instead of living them. A journalism graduate from Lviv, she once imagined a career in the media. But the full-scale invasion reshaped her path, leading her from the editorial rooms of western Ukraine to the minefields of the south.
“If it were not for the war, I would have stayed in journalism,” Karina says. “But I felt a different calling. I wanted to help my country in a way that combined my skills with my lifelong love for animals.”
This search for purpose led her to master a high-stakes profession: explosive detection handling. Her journey took her far from home to Cambodia, where she spent five months in 2023 undergoing rigorous training. Amidst the tropical heat, she learned the delicate art of mine clearance alongside partners who became her closest companions – her dogs.
Karina returned to Ukraine in early 2024 to help launch a specialised demining project. Today, she works in Mykolaiv Oblast, an area heavily contaminated by unexploded ordnance. Her dedication recently led to her promotion to Team Leader, a position in which she now oversees a team of deminers and six dogs.
Despite her new responsibilities, her heart remains with the two dogs who walked those first miles with her: Coral, a gentle eight-year-old Belgian Malinois, and Tina, a high-energy four-year-old mix.
“We always say that dogs are a reflection of their handler,” Karina explains. “With Coral, the bond was instant. She is obedient and focused. Tina is younger and more playful, but she hears me perfectly when it matters most.”
The work demands absolute trust. In the silence of a mission, Karina listens to the rhythm of their breathing and watches every twitch of their tails. It was with Tina that Karina found her first mine during their training – a moment of immense pride that solidified their partnership.
While the heat in Cambodia meant starting work at 5 a.m., the challenges in Mykolaiv are shaped by shifting weather and the sheer scale of contamination.
“Ukraine is now one of the most mined countries in the world,” Karina notes. “But when the conditions are right, the dogs are the true heroes of this process.”
Support from international partners, including the United Nations Development Programme, has been vital in establishing these operations and providing the resources needed to clear the land safely. For Karina, every metre of soil cleared is a step toward a future where farmers can return to their fields and children can play without fear.
Her transition to Team Leader has been bittersweet, as her dogs have been handed over to new handlers. But Karina remains close, helping with their training and watching them continue their vital work.
When asked about her dreams, Karina says her sights are set on a personal victory.
“Peace for my country is the first thing,” she says. “But I also have a dream for my dogs. When they retire, I want to adopt them both. I want to see those two wagging tails every morning in a house that is finally safe.”
* UNDP works closely with the Government of Ukraine to coordinate mine action, strengthen legislation, and mobilise international support. Key UNDP partners in this area include Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Japan.
