Since March 2025, GCS has been cooperating with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (hereinafter SESU), facilitating the development of skills, expertise and support structures required to conduct mechanised demining operations using GCS-200 platforms.

What began as a training programme has evolved into a long-term capability partnership, encompassing operator training, mechanical demining instruction, mentoring, quality assurance and on-site operational support. The primary objective is equipping SESU teams with the knowledge, skills and resources needed for the independent and effective operation and maintenance of mechanised demining assets over the long term.

To date, all SESU units equipped with the GCS-200 have completed the training programme. The curriculum covers a broad range of areas necessary for successful land clearance tasks. In addition to operating and maintaining the GCS-200, SESU personnel underwent training in operational planning, fleet management and technical support, basic life support and pre-hospital care. The program also includes courses on the application of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and advanced maintenance of mechanised demining equipment up to Level 3.

“This integrated approach reflects the reality of modern humanitarian demining. Effective operations depend not only on machinery, but also on the people, their technical expertise, well-established maintenance systems and operational workflows that ensure constant field-readiness of the equipment”, shares Lourie Venter, International Operations Project Manager at GCS.

Alongside formal training, GCS provides on-site consultations directly in operational areas and execute quality enhancement measures to help reinforce operational standards, transfer practical knowledge and support continuous improvement. These activities ensure that capability is sustained beyond initial training and advance acquired capabilities in response to evolving operational demands.

As Ukraine continues its long-term mine action efforts, the partnership between GCS and SESU demonstrates the importance of capability development that extends beyond equipment delivery. By investing in people, processes and technical expertise, the programme is helping build a self-sustaining operational capability, enabling SESU teams to effectively carry out humanitarian demining missions for years to come.