Land mining and exchange of experience: Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine met with representatives of the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Bohdan Drapyaty held a meeting with Stefano Toscano, Director of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.
Also participating were Volodymyr Demchuk, Acting Head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Drainage.
During the meeting, the issue of humanitarian demining of Ukrainian lands was discussed. Bohdan Drapyaty reported on the work in the direction of humanitarian demining over the past three months. He stressed that not only employees of the State Emergency Service, but also specialists of the National Police and the National Guard are involved in pyrotechnic works.
“During this period, we managed to increase the staffing of the State Emergency Service. This is plus 300 people, up to 1400 people, who constantly carry out demining on a rotational basis. There are also about 100 police officers involved in demining. And about 30 people - the National Guard of Ukraine,” said the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
Bohdan Drapyaty paid special attention to the state and prospects of expanding the staff of explosives and pyrotechnicians, training of personnel, certification of mine control operators, testing of unmanned aerial vehicles for detection of explosive objects, efficiency of use of mechanized demining machines, implementation and adaptation international standards of anti-mining activities, the issue of underwater mining, and one of the key issues is the development of the National Humanitarian Mining Strategy, where the main coordinator is the Ministry economy of Ukraine headed by First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko.
Bohdan Drapyaty also emphasized the work of the Interregional Center for Humanitarian Demining and Rapid Response of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, which is engaged in training and training pyrotechnicians.
“We have the resources to increase the amount of training of relevant specialists. We are taking a gradual and balanced path. This center is important because it carries out the certification of mine control operators. As of now, 32 operators are undergoing certification,” said the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Bohdan Drapyaty emphasized that the Ministry of Internal Affairs also managed to increase the number of mechanized demining cars.
“The State Service of Ukraine for emergency situations has 15 such cars. Two cars - from the National Police of Ukraine. By the end of the year, we hope to receive 22 cars for the SNS. And over the next year, six more from international donors, and four from our own funds,” the Deputy Minister said.
In turn, Stefano Toscano testified to Ukraine's consistent support in the field of humanitarian demining and building efforts to increase institutional capacity in conducting high-quality and rapid demining of territories.
In addition, Stefano Toscano noted that the specialists of the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining are ready to participate in the development of national standards that will comply with international standards, but adapted to Ukrainian realities.
In addition, the director of the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining stressed that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the center managed to establish cooperation and today's visit will only strengthen joint capacities. So Stefano Toscano said - the center will announce an additional recruitment for two positions that will be related to information management. According to him, it is these two people who will closely cooperate with their visas, who will work, both in the State Emergency Service and in the National Authorities.
In addition, representatives of the Geneva International Center and the Ministry of Internal Affairs agreed on the involvement of specialists of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine to the exercises as instructors.
Rory Logan, Director of the Department of Strategy, Efficiency and Impact of the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Mining, spoke about the peculiarities of developing and modernizing international standards for anti-mining activities and initiated a broader involvement of Ukrainian industry representatives in this process, as well as providing methodical assistance in adapting the standards to national legislation, taking into account the challenges facing Ukraine as a result of Russia's unprovoked, aggressive war against our state.
Finally, Bohdan Drapyaty thanked the representatives of the foreign delegation for their assistance and efforts in demining Ukrainian territories. However, he stressed that only after the victory and liberation of the occupied regions will it be possible to find out how many territories will need demining.
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
