Ukraine

More than four years into the full-scale military offensive launched by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022, Ukraine is facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world. An estimated 12.7 million people require humanitarian assistance, including nearly two million children (OCHA, January 2025). In 2025 — the deadliest year for civilians since the start of the offensive — over 2,500 civilians were killed and more than 12,000 were injured, 31 per cent more than in 2024 (OCHA, January 2026). Around 3.7 million people remain internally displaced, with limited prospects for return (IOM, September 2025). Homes, schools, hospitals, and energy infrastructure have been systematically damaged or destroyed, pushing millions deeper into poverty and dependence on humanitarian aid.  

Layered beneath this visible destruction is a slower, invisible threat. Ukraine is now the most heavily mine-contaminated country in the world (UNMAS, April 2025). Approximately 139,000 square km — about 23% of its territory — is potentially contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), endangering civilians, blocking access to agricultural land, and halting the reconstruction of essential services (UNDP and Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, April 2025). In 2025, 5.4 million people required mine action assistance (OCHA, Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, 2025). To navigate this scale of crisis, the Government of Ukraine established the National Mine Action Authority (NMAA); however, the complexity of the response demands a robust, evidence-based system to prioritize clearance and ensure that every square meter released is safe for community return.