United to win: Canadian Mriya Aid funds publication of 3,000 explosive device identification manuals for Ukrainian sappers
Photo: Mriya Aid
The Canadian charity organization Mriya Aid has funded the publication of 3,000 explosive device identification manuals for Ukrainian sappers.
Ukrinform reports this.
What is the problem?
According to the latest data from the Main Directorate for Mine Action, Civil Protection and Environmental Safety, since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, demining units of the Security and Defense Forces have detected and destroyed 893,070 explosive devices, and mine operators during humanitarian demining have detected and destroyed 17,845.
What is the solution?
"The uniqueness of the publication is that the sappers actually created this manual for themselves and their colleagues, understanding what information can save their lives and what knowledge they absolutely need. Therefore, we gladly agreed to help print and distribute this manual.
We received positive feedback and a request for additional copies from all our partners in Ukraine," Lesia Granger, Chairman of the Board of Mriya Aid, said.
Photo: Mriya Aid
How does it work?
This manual, created for civilian and military demining specialists, is based on the most up-to-date information collected and structured by professional sappers working in frontline areas and combat zones.
Photo: Mriya Aid
"The guide's content is based on images, descriptions, and other details provided by a vast network of professionals working in this field.
The book includes both mines already well known to Ukrainian sappers and those that are not found elsewhere, as well as improvised explosive devices and traps that the Russian occupiers install in houses, in vegetable gardens, in garden and forest areas," the charity said.
Photo: Mriya Aid
With the assistance of Mriya Aid, the guide was distributed to specialists from 11 Ukrainian military and rescue services and registered mine action operators.
Photo: Mriya Aid
For reference:
Mriya Aid was founded in February 2022 by Canadian security and management specialists and former military personnel. They named their organization after the world's largest Ukrainian-made aircraft, the An-225 Mriya, which was used to deliver humanitarian aid to various countries around the world.
Mriya Aid organizes and pays for training and equipping programs according to International Mine Action Standards for Ukrainian sappers, as well as for instructors and leaders of demining teams.
The organization purchases equipment in Ukraine and abroad, and also specializes in managing programs to train and equip sappers to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
Since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, sappers have returned to use 35 thousand sq. km of Ukrainian land. Approximately 17 thousand sq. km of them were returned to use in 2024.
During January 2025, the demining units of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine cleared 8,755 hectares of deoccupied territories of explosive objects.
In particular, mine action operators (MAOs) in January completed the clearance of 5 areas under the state program for compensation for demining agricultural lands, almost 640 hectares were returned to farmers for use, and the compensated cost of their demining is ₴20.6 million.
The Ministry of Defense, in collaboration with partners, has identified a site for establishing a testing ground to evaluate the latest demining technologies, including those utilizing artificial intelligence.
