Banning Deminers Means Leaving the Risk to Farmers
An initiative is currently being discussed to introduce restrictions on humanitarian demining activities carried out by mine action operators within 50 km of the line of contact. Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, Center for Humanitarian Demining.
Our position is clear: safety is an absolute priority. However, a restriction based solely on a “50 km on the map” principle does not necessarily mean an overall reduction of risk.
The actual situation differs significantly from one area to another. What matters is the real operational environment, the specific characteristics of a site, the type of activity being carried out, the possibility of continuous threat monitoring, and the operator’s capacity to ensure an appropriate level of safety.
SGS has practical experience working in frontline regions. Right now, we are completing humanitarian demining operations on the agricultural land of Agrofirm YUG-M LLC in Kharkiv Oblast, in an area located approximately 45 km from the line of contact.
And this raises a key question: what will happen to contaminated agricultural land if professional demining there is simply prohibited?
Farmers will not stop working their land simply because a 50-kilometre restriction is introduced. Agricultural activity is already continuing in many of these areas. Delaying professional survey and clearance may therefore mean that civilians continue working on land that may be contaminated with explosive ordnance.
In other words, a formal restriction intended to reduce risks for mine action personnel may at the same time leave risks to farmers, agricultural workers and local communities without an adequate response.
Moreover, a significant number of already concluded contracts may effectively be blocked. For agricultural producers, this means another season of waiting. For operators, it means idle teams and equipment, along with the risk of losing established operational capacity. For the state, it means a slower return of land to safe and productive use.
Our position is clear: not an unconditional ban within the 20–50 km zone, but a differentiated system of access to operations based on an assessment of the actual risk.
Humanitarian demining should reduce risks for people, not simply transfer them from one group to another.
SAFE land. GROUND for the growth. SOLUTIONS for the future.
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