Solutions to win: Ukrainian disabled veterans master modern demining technologies in specialized course

Ukrainian veterans with disabilities have successfully finished a specialized mine action course focused on mastering advanced demining techniques. The training, led by experts from the international organization Global Clearance Solutions, has been a significant step towards veterans' professional rehabilitation and participation in humanitarian demining.

Global Clearance Solutions reported that.

What is the problem?

Ukraine remains one of the most mined countries in the world, which poses a serious threat to people's lives and hinders the country's recovery after the war. Demining territories requires many qualified specialists, especially those with experience working under challenging conditions. At the same time, many veterans who have received disabilities face difficulties in professional rehabilitation and a lack of appropriate career opportunities.

What is the solution?

As part of a special program of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, together with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), with funding from Sweden, a mine action course was organized for veterans with disabilities to master modern demining technologies.

How does it work?

During the two-day training, Russian-Ukrainian war veterans who have disabilities were taught both theoretical concepts and practical techniques for operating GCS–200 demining machines, as well as other cutting-edge technologies like drones and mine detectors. As a result, the participants can pursue a career in demining. The ultimate objective of the course is to provide employment opportunities for disabled veterans through mine action efforts.

The training program from GCS included:

• theoretical instruction in mechanical demining and an overview of modern equipment;
• practical classes at the training ground, where veterans practiced using demining machines and drones for humanitarian demining.
• first aid training.

"The practical day was held in difficult conditions due to an air raid, but this did not prevent the participants from effectively completing the training program," Lourie Venter, Project Manager of GCS Ukraine, said.

Special attention was paid to safety and medical training conducted by specialists Anna Bilyk and Nataliia Kolodiazhna. An instructor with experience in military demining, Andrii Yanchuk, familiarized the veterans with the features of using mechanical equipment for humanitarian missions in Ukraine.

"It was important for GCS to support and join the mine action course. Firstly, Ukraine is still the most mined country in the world, and the more people can access the demining profession, the faster we can clear the territories of mines. Secondly, this course is aimed at war veterans who have military experience and have definitely encountered mining. So they know what it is and understand the danger and consequences. Veterans are motivated and learn very quickly, and our instructors saw this with their own eyes," Dmytro Salimonov, General Manager of Global Clearance Solutions Ukraine, emphasizes.

Ihor Bezkaravainy, the Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, attended the training and thanked the organizers and veterans for their contributions to the country's security. In his speech, he highlighted the significance of such initiatives in the professional rehabilitation of veterans.

This course is an essential step in the reintegration of disabled veterans into professional life, providing them with opportunities to work in humanitarian demining, which is highly relevant to Ukraine now and in the conditions of post-war reconstruction.

For reference:

GCS is a leading global provider of solutions for explosive threat reduction. The company combines innovative and proven technologies with local expertise to provide a full range of demining services.