Humanitarian mine action in Ukraine and Swiss expertise

Switzerland is continuing its long-standing commitment to humanitarian mine action worldwide. According to the Action Plan on Mine Action for 2023–26, the focus is on implementing relevant conventions and supporting the clearance of contaminated areas, as well as on innovative approaches. A special focus is placed on Ukraine:

• In 2022 and 2023, the FDFA contributed CHF 10 million to a humanitarian mine clearance programme run by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). The Fondation suisse de déminage (FSD) carries out mine clearance and risk education, while agricultural enterprises receive economic and technical support until they are able to resume cultivation of their land. This groundbreaking project for integrated mine clearance is being supported by Switzerland with CHF 5 million for the period 2024–25. 
• In 2023, the FDFA supported the FSD's work in Ukraine, particularly in the Kharkiv region, with CHF 2.5 million over a period of 12 months. In 2024, the project has been supported with a total of CHF 10 million and expanded to the Kherson region. In October 2024, the Federal Council decided to continue this support with a contribution of CHF 30 million until 2027.
• In 2024, the Confederation is also supporting a project by the Swiss company Global Clearance Solutions. The aim is to supply three demining systems to the Ukraine’s civil protection service. A training and mentoring programme is also planned as part of the project.
• In June 2023, the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) donated a remote-controlled mine clearance machine from the Swiss Digger Foundation to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU).
• From 2023 to 2025, the FDFA and the DDPS are supporting the Ukraine country programme of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) with CHF 3.2 million.  The GICHD is assisting Ukraine in expanding its national mine clearance programme and advising the authorities responsible on its implementation. 
• In 2023 and 2024, Switzerland is co-financing a study by the UNDP that explores approaches to innovative financing and ways to involve private investors.

Switzerland is supporting Ukraine with its expertise in efforts to make contaminated areas safe again in an efficient and effective manner. Switzerland works closely on this issue with the GICHD and the FSD, for example, both of which are based in Geneva and have been operating in Ukraine for many years.