Mine action operators (MAOs) completed the clearance of 1,340 hectares of land in January 2026 as part of the state program to compensate for the cost of demining agricultural land, according to the press service of the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture.
According to the published data, 12 agreements were executed in January, under which operators received UAH 76.43 million in payments. The average cost of demining 1 hectare of land under the program was UAH 57,100. In addition, eight new agreements were signed last month to clear 3,560 hectares at a total cost of UAH 258.68 million.
In total, since the program began, as of February 1, 2026, 73 contracts have been completed, allowing 13,630 hectares of agricultural land to be returned to use. The total cost of the work performed amounted to UAH 789.32 million. Currently, 98 agreements are being implemented to clear 19,310 hectares at a total cost of UAH 1,181.48 million.
The ministry’s infographic also reflects the growth of the sector’s capabilities: as of early February, there are 134 certified PMD operators and 297 demining machines operating in Ukraine. Thus, during January, the number of operators increased by two, and the fleet of special equipment was replenished with three machines.
The state program to compensate for the cost of demining agricultural land is funded under the EU’s Ukraine Facility. At the same time, in January, 40 veterans and women from the families of combatants completed training in non-technical survey of territories as part of a UNDP project and were employed by the state-owned enterprise Ukroboronservice.
The Ministry of Economy added that Ukraine used the GRIT digital platform for the first time to develop a humanitarian demining plan for 2026, which identified 5,312 hectares of priority areas for clearance at the expense of the state.
