Ukraine: Restoring agricultural production in conflict-affected areas
In southern Ukraine, land that once fed families became a frontline battlefield. Today, thanks to coordinated humanitarian mine action, those same fields are slowly returning to life — and with them, the future of an entire community.
When the Government of Ukraine regained control over Kalynivka village in late 2022, its fields told the story of months of occupation and heavy fighting. Once fertile farmland in Mykolaiv Oblast had become part of the front line. Artillery fire, cluster munitions and mortar shells left behind a deadly legacy of explosive ordnance, forcing farmers to abandon their land and livelihoods.
For Serhii from the Agro Kuybyshevske farming company, contamination of his farmlands meant more than damaged soil — it meant lost income and stalled recovery for the wider community. Before the war, these fields provided jobs, generated lease income for landowners and contributed taxes to the local budget. Afterwards, they stood silent and dangerous.
Comprehensive approach
With the generous support of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) returned to Kalynivka to help change that story.
Building on earlier project achievements, DRC sustained and expanded its fully trained and equipped teams across eastern and southern Ukraine. Over 16 months, teams conducted 160 Non-Technical Survey visits in Mykolaiv, Kherson and Kharkiv oblasts, identifying more than 5.9 million square metres of hazardous land.
By integrating survey and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education specialists into joint Community Liaison teams, DRC reduced the burden on overstretched communities while delivering lifesaving information and mapping contamination in one coordinated effort.
Clearance teams went on to clear 416,292 square metres of land, finding 66 explosive ordnances and handing them over to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine for disposal. Dozens of families directly benefit, while hundreds more now live in safer surroundings.
For Bohdan, a 29-year-old deminer originally from Sievierodonetsk, a city in Luhansk Oblast, which is currently occupied by the Russian Federation, the work is deeply personal. After the full-scale invasion, he was unsure of his path. Encouraged by a friend, he joined DRC’s Humanitarian Mine Action team.
“I had no experience in this field before, as I previously worked in the service sector, and I trained as a builder. I decided to join demining because I believe it is important — the team I work with mainly clears agricultural land that provides people with jobs in villages,” says Bohdan.
Despite heat, cold, and constant risk, he speaks of purpose — helping communities and tangibly contributing to recovery.
“I have already found various types of cluster munitions and mines. I am not afraid to search them, as the DRC has strict working standards, and we adhere to them,” Bohdan explains.
When weather conditions prevent demining operations, the teams carry out another important task — marking hazardous areas.
“We put up tape and appropriate signs so that people clearly understand which areas remain extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, given the scale of the contamination, the clearance work will continue for many years to come,” Bohdan adds.
From safety to livelihood
DRC is not only removing explosive hazards but also restoring the local economy. By prioritising agricultural land and linking mine action with economic recovery support, cleared fields can swiftly return to productive use. With new opportunities, farmers are able to cultivate the soil again, generate income, pay taxes and support their families.
In places like Kalynivka, recovery begins with safety. It means that every square metre cleared allows communities to move one step closer to a future rooted once again in their own land.
