Mykolaiv, 21 June 2025 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with financial support from the Government of Luxembourg, has officially handed over the Mines Eye aerial detection system to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU). Developed in Ukraine, this cutting-edge unmanned technology will help make demining faster, more accurate, and safer.

The handover, which took place at the base of the Main Department of State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Mykolaiv oblast, marked the culmination of a joint pilot project between UNDP and the SESU to field-test and scale up innovative detection tools in real-world conditions. The ceremony was attended by senior representatives of the SESU, Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration, and UNDP’s Acting Administrator and UN Under-Secretary-General, Mr. Haoliang Xu.

The Mines Eye system combines magnetometry with high-resolution aerial imaging — including visual and infrared sensors — to remotely scan large, contaminated areas. Using artificial intelligence, it detects explosive remnants of war (ERW), including anti-tank mines, even beneath vegetation. The system provides operators with detailed maps and anomaly reports, enabling safer and more informed decision-making before manual or mechanical clearance begins.

Haoliang Xu, UN Under-Secretary-General and Acting UNDP Administrator, emphasized the importance of combining local innovation with global support to accelerate mine action and recovery.

“Ukrainian engineering ingenuity, strengthened by international solidarity, is helping transform how humanitarian demining is conducted. Our focus is clear: enabling access to land, restoring livelihoods, and supporting Ukraine’s recovery through coordinated, technology-driven and evidence-based land release operations. With tools like this, we can return land to communities more quickly and securely, ensuring safety for those who need it most. Humanitarian mine action is not just about clearing explosives — it’s about restoring safety, rebuilding livelihoods, and unlocking economic potential.”

Over a five-month pilot period, SESU demining teams — trained by UNDP — used the system to scan over 360 hectares of confirmed and suspected hazardous areas in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv oblasts, two of Ukraine’s most mine-contaminated regions.

Vitalii Myroniuk, First Deputy Head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, emphasized that modern technologies are the key to safer and more effective demining:

“This technology is a smart solution that allows us to survey dangerous areas quickly, precisely, and without risk to people,” Myroniuk said. “It enables us to detect threats in areas that are too dangerous for manual inspection. We are grateful to our international partners for their support — not only here and now, but also in building long-term solutions that return safety step by step, meter by meter.”

Heorhii Reshetilov, First Deputy Head of the Mykolaiv Regional Administration, notes that the Mines Eye system has become a real breakthrough for Mykolaiv oblast, where explosive remnants of war have severely damaged vital agricultural land.

“This Ukrainian innovation allows us to accurately detect threats from a distance, making demining faster and, most importantly, safer for our brave specialists,”

.“This Ukrainian innovation allows us to accurately detect threats from a distance, making demining faster and, most importantly, safer for our brave specialists,” Reshetilov said. “It is a critically important step toward restoring safety in our communities and fully reviving the economy.”

The Mines Eye system will be fully integrated into the SESU’s operational toolbox and deployed across Ukraine to support humanitarian demining in areas with difficult terrain, limited access, or dense contamination.

The event also included a live demonstration of the SESU’s broader capabilities, featuring underwater drones, rescue boats, and pyrotechnic vehicles.

Background

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has become one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world, with 138,000 square kilometres potentially affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war. Civilian lives, critical infrastructure, and agricultural development remain at risk.

In response, UNDP — working in coordination with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and international partners — has adopted a comprehensive, technology-driven approach to humanitarian demining, combining technical innovation with field-level support. This includes piloting aerial and underwater systems, expanding technical survey capacity, and enhancing national coordination.

Media Enquiries:

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