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Specialists from the Return to Life Charitable Foundation have joined a training course on land release in mine action. The training is being delivered by experts from the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). The course combines both theoretical and practical components, ranging from classroom sessions to field exercises, and is based on the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS). Mastering international approaches and standards directly contributes to improved planning, greater accuracy in decision-making, and enhanced transparency in reporting. Continuous professional development enables our team to implement mine action activities more effectively and in accordance with global best practices.

The meeting with non-governmental mine action operators was organized by UN Women as part of the “She Deminer”program. The event brought together mine action operators, representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, the Humanitarian Demining Center, United Nations Volunteers, and leading civil society organizations. The Foundation was represented by its Director, Kateryna Skrypnikova. Participants discussed the outcomes of the “She Deminer” program, employment mechanisms for women who have completed demining training, a gender-responsive training package for mine action operators, as well as potential areas for partnership and future cooperation. The Foundation continues to implement its gender policy, ensuring that at least 30% of our team consists of women. We firmly believe that equal opportunities and the inclusion of women at all levels—from management to demining operations—make our collective efforts stronger and more effective. We would like to thank UN Women in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Deminers Association, Girls NGO, and all partners for organizing this important meeting.

UN Women is a United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for cooperation in the field of humanitarian demining, in particular the implementation of a gender-sensitive approach in programs aimed at clearing territories of explosive hazards, as well as expanding women’s participation in mine action activities. Special attention was given to creating conditions for women’s professional development, their engagement in humanitarian demining, and the implementation of educational and awareness-raising initiatives aimed at improving public safety. An important outcome of the cooperation is already the participation of female specialists working in mine action in international training programs. In particular, with the support of UN Women, our Foundation’s female employees are currently undergoing international demining training in Kosovo, enhancing their qualifications in line with international standards. Kateryna Skrypnikova, Director of the “Return to Life” Charitable Foundation, expressed her gratitude to UN Women for supporting the development of women’s professional potential in the field of humanitarian demining. Background UN Women is a United Nations entity established to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women worldwide. The organization supports countries and partners in implementing programs aimed at ensuring equal opportunities, women’s economic independence, and their participation in peace, security, and recovery processes.

Anna Anisimova, Head of the Non-Technical Survey and Community Liaison Team at the Charitable Foundation “Return to Life”, is enhancing her professional qualifications by attending an international Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) course held at the MAT Kosovo – EOD & ERW Training Establishment international training center in Kosovo. The training was organized at the invitation of the NGO Association of Ukrainian Deminers as part of the project “She Is a Deminer,” implemented jointly with the NGO Girls and UN Women Ukraine, with financial support from international partners. The project “She Is a Deminer” aims to strengthen the role of women in mine action and to develop their professional competencies. In addition to Anna, female deminers from other national mine action operators are also participating in the training, including Ukrainian Demining Services and the Ukrainian Demining Agency. The course runs from February 16 to March 13, 2026, and includes both theoretical and practical training in accordance with the international IMAS 09.31 standard. Participants are mastering methods for the search and identification of improvised explosive devices, the use of specialized equipment and personal protective equipment, and procedures for the safe execution of tasks in line with international standards. 💬 “We are proud that our team continuously improves its qualifications and takes part in international programs that strengthen Ukraine’s capacity in the field of humanitarian demining,” said Foundation Director Kateryna Skrypnikova. It is worth noting that approximately 30% of the Foundation’s team are women, who play an important role in implementing humanitarian and security initiatives.

The leadership of the “Return to Life” Charitable Foundation took part in a field demonstration of the Ukrainian remotely operated demining machine Germina-3000, organized by Ukrainian Demining Services (UDS). The event took place on a site previously cleared by the company within the Bucha territorial community of the Kyiv region, near the village of Shybene. The demonstration was held in challenging winter conditions — on snow and in sub-zero temperatures. More than 60 representatives of diplomatic missions, international organizations, government institutions, charitable foundations, and mine action operators attended the event. Among them were the Embassies of Slovenia, Belgium, and Croatia in Ukraine, the American Chamber of Commerce, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, UN Women, the UNDP Mine Action Programme, FAO, the Mine Action Center, the Interregional Center for Humanitarian Demining of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, MAG Ukraine, FSD Ukraine, and other partners. Participants also discussed the challenges and specific features of demining during the winter period, the role of mechanized solutions in ensuring year-round operations, and the importance of developing domestic technologies in the field of humanitarian demining. “Comprehensive demining during winter is made possible precisely thanks to modern machinery — it ensures year-round operations. For us, as a charitable foundation, it is important not only to speak about this but to act. That is why we recently signed a contract with the Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Building Plant to purchase one Germina-3000 machine in order to strengthen humanitarian demining capacity in Ukraine,” said Kateryna Skrypnikova, Director of the “Return to Life” Charitable Foundation. We will continue to support innovation in mine action, as it directly brings people closer to returning to safe lives in cleared territories 🇺🇦