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The Return to Life Foundation has concluded an additional cooperation agreement with the Italian NGO Fondazione Progetto Arca Onlus This document expands the possibilities of our partnership and concerns the implementation and achievement of various goals and objectives related to humanitarian demining in Ukraine. As previously reported, in December 2024, a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of demining was concluded between Fondazione Progetto Arca and the Foundation. About the partner: Fondazione Progetto Arca Onlus Fondazione Progetto Arca is an Italian charitable foundation founded in 1994 in Milan. For over 30 years, the organization has been implementing humanitarian and social programs in Italy and abroad, providing emergency assistance to the most vulnerable groups of the population: the homeless, refugees, the elderly, women and children affected by crisis situations. Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the foundation has been actively involved in supporting Ukrainians, in particular through humanitarian missions on the border, the deployment of social assistance centers, the supply of food and medicine, and now through cooperation in mine action. Together with international partners, Fondazione Progetto Arca implements large-scale projects in over 8 regions of Ukraine, supporting tens of thousands of Ukrainian families affected by the war. This is another step towards a safe Ukraine. Thank you for the trust and support of our partners!

The Charitable Foundation “Return to Life” signed a memorandum with the Bashtan District Military Administration in the field of humanitarian demining This week, our sappers plan to conduct a non-technical survey of 75 hectares of territory within the Horikhiv rural community of Bashtan District. This is the first step towards clearing the land of explosive remnants of war and returning it to safe use. Thank you for your trust Баштанська районна державна адміністрація

The Return to Life Foundation has begun cooperation in the field of humanitarian demining with the Makariv community of the Buchansky district of the Kyiv region – the corresponding Memorandum was signed with the head of the community, Vadym Tokar. Within the framework of the agreements, the first area requiring non-technical survey has already been identified – the area is 17.2 hectares. Makariv district is one of the most affected in the Kyiv region during the full-scale invasion in 2022. After deoccupation, a large number of explosive objects remained here.

The Charity Fund “Return to Life” has started a non-technical survey in the Kyiv region Today, sappers of the Charity Fund have started a non-technical survey of a land plot with an area of ​​0.1398 hectares in the village of Bohdanivka, Brovary district, Kyiv region. NTO is the first and key stage of humanitarian demining, on which the further work of sappers depends. NTS allows you to determine how contaminated the area is and provides a basis for making decisions on planning subsequent operations to clear the territories. The main goal of NTS is to provide clear recommendations for: planning further stages of demining or removing the area from the list of potentially dangerous areas (PoNR) or suspected dangerous areas (PNT). The group consists of four experienced specialists, equipped with all the necessary equipment for high-quality and quick completion of the task. The Director of the Fund, Kateryna Skrypnikova, thanked the landowner for their trust: “We are grateful for the appeal and trust in our team. Our sappers are true professionals. They will definitely do their job efficiently and promptly.” The NTO is being conducted for a resident of the village of Bohdanivka, Pavlo Kunda, who turned to the Charitable Foundation for help. “Bohdanivka was occupied by the Russians for about a month. Our village suffered greatly. There was an enemy tank next to my house and there was constant shelling. I cannot be sure that the land is safe, because there may be mines or other explosive objects left, so I turned to the Charitable Foundation for help in conducting a non-technical inspection,” says the owner of the plot, Pavlo. We remind you that the Foundation has a state certificate of compliance for conducting NTS. Restoration begins with demining!

In Kharkiv, work was carried out to inform employees of the V.Ya. Yuryev Institute of Plant Production of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine about mine safety and the danger of explosive objects. In addition to a general lecture, which examined in detail the risks associated with mines and explosive remnants of war, participants received additional materials. Additionally, booklets on mine safety were distributed. Due to the war that the Russian Federation started against Ukraine, the territory of our country is one of the most contaminated with explosive objects in the world. One of the main problems that arise in such territories is the death and injury of civilians from mines and explosive objects. That is why the importance of educational activities aimed at informing the population about the risks cannot be overestimated. This allows reducing the number of cases of injuries and deaths. It is especially important that such work is carried out by certified mine action operators, such as specialists from the “Return to Life” Charity Foundation. “We do everything possible to ensure that people are aware of the risks from mines and explosives, and also encourage them to behave consciously, which will help minimize the risks to their life and health, as well as to property and the environment,” says Kateryna Skrypnikova, Director of the “Return to Life” Charity Foundation.

Such meetings are held every month to discuss various issues in the field of demining. The sessions considered the implementation of informing the population about the risks associated with explosive objects in the regions of Ukraine. The participants of the meeting shared best practices and discussed possible difficulties that arise in the process of work. Such working groups are an excellent platform for interaction and coordination of mine action operators.

Demine Ukraine Forum 2024 brought together about 350 participants, including representatives of the government, diplomacy, international and national non-governmental organizations, scientists, experts in humanitarian demining, manufacturers of specialized equipment and machinery, etc. “This is an important event in the field of humanitarian demining, which allowed us to summarize the work, outline achievements in this sector, and also determine development priorities for the next year. The forum brought the necessary knowledge, useful contacts and pleasant impressions. We thank the organizers for creating such a necessary platform for dialogue and cooperation,” said Kateryna Skrypnikova, Director of the Foundation.  As part of the event, Ukrainian manufacturers and innovators presented promising developments that will increase the safety of sappers and ensure fast and high-quality demining/cleaning of contaminated territories in our country. Organizators: Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Humanitarian Demining Center. Partners: UNDP Ukraine, PUMB (First Ukrainian Mobile Bank), Kyivstar, Uklon, Starlight Media, American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, European Business Association, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine, Ambassade de France en Ukraine.

During the meeting, important challenges facing our country in the field of humanitarian demining were discussed. As a result of the discussion, the main areas of cooperation and interaction for the next year and beyond were identified. In addition, the Foundation’s management was familiarized with the donor programs implemented by Denmark in mine action for Ukraine.

UNAHR Ukrainian National Association for Humanitarian Demining The Director of the Foundation, Kateryna Skrypnikova, emphasized the importance of coordinating efforts: “Cooperation is the key to success. Only by joining our efforts can we achieve significant results in demining, restoring and cleaning our country.” The UNAHR Association is a non-governmental structure that unites companies operating in the field of mine action. The key mission of the Association is to promote the fastest and highest quality clearance of the territories of Ukraine from explosive objects, which coincides with our mission and vision.