Explosive contamination remains one of the most significant barriers to recovery in Ukraine. Large areas of agricultural land, transport corridors and residential zones are affected by landmines and unexploded ordnance, limiting civilian safety, economic activity and reconstruction.

To support sustained clearance efforts, Global Clearance Solutions (GCS) is establishing a forthcoming service and maintenance facility in Ukraine, to strengthen support for humanitarian and governmental clients.

Clearance as a prerequisite for recovery

Since the start of the conflict, the scale of contamination has required rapid expansion of clearance capacity. International assessments indicate that up to 40 percent of Ukraine's territory may be contaminated by landmines and other explosive hazards, with a significant proportion of munitions remaining unexploded.

At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London in June 2023, Denise Brown, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Coordinator in Ukraine, underlined the importance of mine action for national recovery:

"Demining is absolutely the entry point for recovery and reconstruction."

Explosive contamination directly affects food security. An estimated two million hectares of farmland require clearance before they can be safely cultivated. The resulting loss in agricultural output has implications well beyond Ukraine, with global supply impacts already being felt.

Onsite support, training and sustainment

GCS has supported clearance operations in Ukraine through the delivery of mechanical systems, operator training and technical assistance. Establishing an in-country service and maintenance capability allows GCS to provide direct, rapid support to deployed teams and to ensure sustained availability of equipment under demanding conditions.

As Fabian Klauser, Head of Service and Maintenance at GCS, explains:

"Being on the ground demonstrates our commitment, but it also allows us to apply years of operational experience directly. We bring full service support and expert teams to maintain and support the machines already delivered and those still to come."

The local presence shortens response times for technical issues and enables closer coordination with Ukrainian operators working under intense operational pressure.

Operational impact under real conditions

GCS support extends beyond maintenance to operational mentoring and training. Since May 2023, GCS experts have conducted intensive training programmes for Ukrainian operators, focusing on safe operation, maintenance and integration of mechanical clearance systems.

According to Johan Coetzee, Head of Operations at GCS, the value of this approach is demonstrated in the field:

"Being close to our customers allows us to support them quickly, whether in operations or service and maintenance. The training delivered over recent months has paid off. Just last week, a machine clearing antitank mines struck a landmine boosted with between five and seven kilograms of explosives and was back in service within half an hour, thanks to the capability of GCStrained operators."

Building national clearance capacity

GCS is currently training the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the National Police, and the Ministry of Defence to operate the first ten of thirty mechanical demining systems scheduled for delivery in 2023. Training programmes combine technical instruction with practical field application, drawing on the local knowledge and experience of Ukrainian personnel.

This approach supports the development of sustainable national clearance capacity, ensuring that equipment, training and support are aligned with real operational needs.

Sustained engagement

The establishment of an in-country presence reflects GCS's long-term commitment to supporting explosive hazard mitigation in Ukraine. Clearance of landmines and unexploded ordnance is a multiyear challenge, requiring not only equipment but also training, maintenance, operational support and close cooperation with national authorities.

By combining local presence, service and maintenance capability, training and operational expertise, GCS supports ongoing efforts to reduce explosive risk, restore safe access to land and enable recovery across affected regions of Ukraine.

Sources: "Acclerating Humanitarian Mine Action in Ukraine as a Precondition for Sustainable Economic and Social Recovery", Ukraine Recovery Conference, London June 2023