Landmines and other explosive remnants of war continue to pose a daily risk to civilians in conflictaffected countries. On average, one person is killed or injured by explosive hazards every hour, with children among the most affected.

On United Nations International Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action Day, marked on 4 April under the theme "Safe Futures Start Here", Global Clearance Solutions (GCS) highlights the human reality behind mine action through the experience of its teams working in Ukraine.

Clearance informed by personal experience

For many Ukrainian deminers, explosive hazard mitigation is not an abstract task. Iryna Stupnitska, Administrative Manager and Interpreter at GCS Ukraine, was forced to flee her home in Irpin in 2022. When she later returned, uncertainty about explosive contamination shaped everyday movement and decisionmaking.

Her experience reflects the conditions faced by many communities returning to previously occupied areas, where the ground itself remains a source of risk long after fighting has moved on.

Professional responsibility and measurable impact

For Oleksandr Vorontsov, Mechanical Demining Team Leader at GCS Ukraine, clearance work is defined by accountability and outcomes.

"Each explosive object found is a life saved," he says.

His role involves coordinating mechanical clearance operations that reduce risk for civilians and enable followon recovery work, combining trained local teams with structured procedures and quality control.

Mine action as the foundation for recovery

The experiences shared by Iryna and Oleksandr underline why mine action remains essential to recovery in Ukraine. Clearance enables families to return safely, land to be reused and infrastructure to be restored. Without verified safe ground, reconstruction and normal life cannot resume.

GCS works alongside national authorities and international partners to remove explosive threats through survey, clearance, training and riskreduction activities, contributing to the reduction of one of the most persistent dangers facing civilian populations.

In this video, we dive further into the work carried out by GCS teams in Ukraine and the motivation behind it. Additional information on Mine Awareness Day and the work of the UN Mine Action community is available via the United Nations.