Lviv Oblast, 19 June 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, and with the support of the Government of Luxembourg, has for the second consecutive year hosted UTTC Technology Week — the largest demonstration of humanitarian demining technologies in Ukraine.

Held at the Ukrainian Training and Testing Complex (UTTC), the two-day event brought together around 350 people, including 176 registered participants representing 140 organisations, representatives of more than 50 technology companies and developers, 22 mine action operators, and international representatives from more than 10 countries.

The event showcased Ukrainian and international solutions designed to support humanitarian demining operations, including demining machinery, robotic systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, protective equipment, medical solutions, and other technologies supporting the work of demining teams. The Ukrainian developers present were joined by international manufacturers from Australia, Croatia, Germany, Italy, and Sweden, who demonstrated their own technologies and approaches.

The technologies were tested in conditions designed to replicate real operational environments as closely as possible. Demonstrations included controlled explosions, the operation of demining machines and robotic systems, drone-based solutions, and the testing of advanced sensor and engineering technologies.

Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, stressed the broader significance of Ukraine’s experience in developing new approaches to humanitarian demining, and the potential for these solutions to contribute to international mine action efforts.

“A single technology, even the most advanced, will not determine the future of demining,” Bezkaravainyi said. “Its future will be shaped by the ability to combine standards, context, data, drones, robotic systems, machinery and the expertise of various specialists into a single, integrated process.

“Naturally, effectiveness must be proven in practice. This is precisely the systematic approach we are currently developing and testing in Ukraine. The scale of the challenge drives us to find unique solutions, and the results achieved may prove valuable far beyond Ukraine’s borders.”

A central element of UTTC Technology Week 2026 was the Technological Relay — a practical demonstration of cooperation between people and technologies. Teams from state and non-state mine action operators worked through different operational scenarios, completing technical tasks and selecting appropriate solutions for each challenge. The focus was not only on individual pieces of equipment, but on how different technologies can be integrated into a single operational process to improve the safety, speed, and effectiveness of humanitarian demining in Ukraine.

During the opening ceremony, Colonel Ruslan Berehulia, Head of the Main Directorate for Mine Action, Civil Protection and Environmental Safety, emphasized that UTTC Technology Week is not just a technology exhibition, but a practical platform for testing modern approaches to demining and developing future standards for their application.

“In today’s realities, it is not enough to have a good unmanned aerial vehicle or an armored vehicle. Effectiveness is measured by how quickly data from UAVs is transmitted to deminers, how a robotic system interacts with a heavy mechanized demining machine, and how efficiently medical support is organized in the event of an emergency,” Colonel Berehulia said. “Effective interaction between people, the integration of artificial intelligence/technologies, and clear standardization of processes are what today serve as the key to success in demining.”

Ben Lark, UNDP Mine Action Programme Manager in Ukraine, highlighted the role of UTTC Technology Week as a platform that gathers different actors involved in developing and applying innovative humanitarian demining solutions.

“UTTC Technology Week 2026 brings together operators, manufacturers, representatives of the Government of Ukraine, and international partners, all of whom play a critical role in these efforts,” Lark said.

“Out of that collaboration and discussion comes progress. We’re listening to feedback, incorporating it into our processes, and working closely with our government partners to ensure our support remains relevant and responsive to evolving needs of Ukraine.”

UTTC Technology Week 2026 also highlighted the important role of people in mine action. Among the participants were Ukrainian veterans who, after being injured, joined the mine action sector through a specialised retraining course supported by UNDP in Ukraine. During the event, they took part in a training session focused on using drones to detect mines and explosive ordnance from a safe distance. 

Background:

Since 2022, mines and explosive ordnance have continued to pose a major threat to civilians and communities across Ukraine. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, between 24 February 2022 and December 2025 mine-related incidents caused 472 civilian deaths and 1,188 injuries.

Nearly one quarter of Ukraine’s territory — around 133,000 square kilometres — remains at risk of contamination by explosive ordnance, an area larger than that of the country of Greece.

Media enquiries:

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