Kyiv, 14 January 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, the national platform Demine Ukraine, and the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre, and with financial support from the Community Recovery Fund of Ukraine, has opened an audio installation called “Land: the Bearer of Memory”.

Ten transparent cylinders filled with soil collected from 10 regions affected by hostilities create a space where the land “speaks” through the voices of people whose lives have been changed by the war. Each cylinder contains a separate audio story — of deminers who neutralize explosive hazards every day, of farmers who are bringing devastated fields back to life, and of children who are once again finding their way home. The soil becomes a symbol of resilience, recovery, and human memory.

The audio installation is located on the second floor of the Ivan Franko Theatre (3, Ivan Franko Square). It can be visited with a valid ticket to any theatre performance until 15 February 2026.

The initiative aims to raise public awareness of humanitarian demining as one of Ukraine’s key national priorities.

“Demining is not just about clearing land of explosive hazards — it is a transformation. It is a critical first step towards recovery. However, effective and sustainable results require a comprehensive approach,” said Auke Lootsma, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine.

“The scale of this challenge is historic: the cost of demining Ukraine is estimated at US$35 billion. That is why we are scaling up innovation — from the use of artificial intelligence and drones to satellite imagery — to make clearance faster, safer, and more effective. Together with our partners, we are proud to support the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine in this vital mission.”

“Over the past year, we have made approximately 12,000 hectares of agricultural land safe. These figures represent the future — Ukraine’s development, and the recovery of agricultural production, job creation, and tax revenues. Produce grown on cleared land matters not only for previously contaminated regions, but for the entire country,” said Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. “Tomatoes from Kherson are used to cook borshch in Volyn or Lviv regions; bread made from grain grown in Mykolaiv or Kharkiv is baked in Vinnytsia or Bukovyna; and grain is exported to many countries in the Middle East and Africa. These are already global challenges.”.

The installation at the Ivan Franko Theatre continues the conversation about land as a value, a challenge, and a shared responsibility. These themes are also central to the play “Land”, a stage adaptation of the novella by Olha Kobylianska, directed by David Petrosian.

“Since time immemorial, land has been one of the most important symbols of life, existence, relationships, and dreams for Ukrainians — because everything was connected to it,” said Yevhen Nyshchuk, Director General and Artistic Director of the Ivan Franko National Theatre. “This is vividly reflected in our drama, literature, and poetry, much of which comes to life on the stage of our theatre. We are currently staging Land, based on the work of Olha Kobylianska, directed by Davit Petrosian. In almost every story told on our stage, the question of what land means to a particular family is present.”

“Each evening, around 800 people will be able to see the installation during the performance. They will interact with it and reflect on the meanings of what is good and what is evil.”

Background:

According to official data, more than 130,000 square kilometres of land in Ukraine have been affected by hostilities and are therefore potentially contaminated by mines and other explosive remnants of war. Approximately 42,000 square kilometres have already been cleared and returned to use.

For more information about the initiative and the audio stories, visit landofmemory.com.ua.

Media enquiries: 
Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications and Advocacy, UNDP in Ukraine
yuliia.samus@undp.org