We are proud of our partnerships and this week were honoured with a visit from a diplomatic mission composed of representatives from the embassies of three European countries especially involved in Mine Action in Ukraine.

Swiss, Austrian and Polish embassy staff attended training which GCS has begun in the Kirovorhad region in partnership with the Swiss State Secretariat for Econonic Affairs (SECO) and The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU). The humanitarian demining package totalling CHF 4.6 million announced last year at the Ukraine Mine Action Conference in Lausanne, finances three GCS high-performance mine clearance systems as part of a comprehensive partnership.

During a one-day working visit, GCS operators conducting training showcased the effectiveness of our remote-controlled demining machines and demonstrated how quickly and successfully SESU deminers are mastering the new equipment, which includes specialised integrated drone technology.

As well as comprehensive training, the wide-ranging Swiss partnership also includes transporters to ensure that the machines can be deployed where they are needed most. Furthermore, the support package extends to service and maintenance work for three years and a regular reporting scheme. As soon as training is complete, all three GCS demining machines will be contributing to a mine-free future for Ukraine.