In the fourth year of the full-scale war, Ukraine remains one of the most heavily mine-/Explosive Remnants of War (ERW)- contaminated countries in the world. Nearly 30% of its territory – over 139,000 square kilometers¹– is potentially at risk of contamination . For people living in these areas, danger is part of everyday life, limiting access to farmland, resources, and basic safety. With generous support from the U.S. Department of State Office for Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) and in collaboration with implementing partners, iMMAP Inc. Ukraine is helping communities reclaim their land and rebuild their livelihoods.
Tucked away in northern Ukraine’s Chernihiv region, near the borders with the Russian Federation and Belarus, the village of Selianska Sloboda is a quiet, picturesque place. Storks nest near village houses, and fields stretch to the horizon in every direction. Grains, potatoes, sunflowers, and corn are the lifeblood of the community here, where agriculture is both heritage and livelihood.
That peace was shattered in 2022. Armed Forces of the Russian Federation occupied the area for several months, while nearby villages endured relentless shelling. When the troops finally withdrew, they left more than scorched memories behind. The land was contaminated with different types of ERW, including unexploded ordnance (UXO), abandoned explosive ordnance (AXO), shell fragments, and the silent threat of buried explosive hazards.
For local farmer Viktor Budash, the impact was immediate and devastating. “I have about 100 hectares of land nearby, and nearly half of it was contaminated by different hazardous items,” he says. “For three years, I could not plow or plant anything. It broke my heart to see our land like that, damaged and dangerous.”
Although demining began soon after the Chernihiv region was back under Ukraine’s Government control, the area, scarred by its proximity to the border and intense fighting, still faces a long road to recovery. In many places, the land remains too dangerous to set foot on.
Since March 2025, iMMAP Inc.’s implementing partner, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), has been conducting mine clearance operations near Selianska Sloboda. A team of six deminers is methodically working to clear 247,000 square meters of contaminated land.
This is a complex site, along with the usual shell fragments, we have identified parts of bunkers and crates of old ammunition. But we are making steady progress – about 78,000 square meters have been cleared so far.
Explains Nadiia Vivdenko, DRC’s demining team leader.
As part of its Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) mandate, iMMAP Inc. Ukraine conducted a comprehensive site assessment to evaluate ongoing operations. These independent monitoring visits are essential for ensuring that clearance operations meet international standards, follow safety protocols, and bring tangible benefits to communities.
Third-party monitoring plays a vital role in ensuring transparency, progress and quality in humanitarian demining. By independently and transparently tracking progress and verifying safety procedures, we help build trust – with both local residents and our donor. Most importantly, we help ensure that the land is safe for civilians to rebuild their lives.
Says Mihail Semionov, TPM Project Manager at iMMAP Inc. Ukraine
Photo 2. Nadiia Vivdenko, DRC’ s Demining Team Lead (© iMMAP Inc. Ukraine)
DRC’s Nadiia Vivdenko reinforces the importance of the careful, methodical work carried out by deminers. “We go inch by inch, inspecting the ground with great precision,” she says. “Every piece of land must be handed back to the people clean and safe.”
By the time the operation wraps up – expected by the end of the year – more than 1,000 people, including local farmers and villagers, are expected to benefit directly from the cleared area. iMMAP Inc.’s TPM team will verify the completed task to assess the real impact of these efforts and ensure lasting value for the community.
Some of that change is already taking root. Viktor Budash has returned to a portion of his fields – he has planted potatoes on five hectares. “It’s not much yet,” he says with a smile, “but it feels like hope. The land is slowly coming back to life and feeding us again. I believe we will manage to clear every last meter of it.”