A technical meeting on using mechanical rollers on agricultural land previously contaminated by explosive ordnance was held in Kyiv at the GICHD’s invitation.

The event was attended by officers of the Main Directorate for Mine Action, Civil Protection and Environmental Safety — Colonels Oleh Shuvarskyi, Yevhenii Zubarevskyi and Olha Drobot — as well as representatives of the GICHD, The HALO Trust, Mines Advisory Group and other specialists.

From Field Experience to New Approaches

GICHD Adviser Stefan De Coninck presented the results of a field visit to the Kharkiv region, where the use of specialized machinery equipped with roller modules on already cleared agricultural plots was studied. The purpose of this approach is to provide additional confirmation that the land can be used more safely and to reduce farmers’ concerns before they return to work.

Rollers Do Not Replace Established Procedures

At the same time, the position of the Main Directorate for Mine Action, Civil Protection and Environmental Safety, which serves as the secretariat of the National Mine Action Authority, is clear: the use of such machinery does not replace non-technical and technical surveys, clearance and quality control; it cannot independently confirm the absence of all types of explosive ordnance; it is not grounds for automatically declaring an area safe; and it must not create a false sense of guaranteed safety among land users.

The Range of Threats Is Much Broader Than Anti-Tank and Anti-Personnel Mines

— At present, we are considering the use of such technical solutions outside humanitarian mine action processes. Before their practical implementation, appropriate research and testing must be conducted, risks assessed, technical requirements established, procedures for documenting the results defined, and areas of responsibility determined. Our unwavering priority is people’s safety and preventing the replacement of established land-release procedures, — Colonel Oleh Shuvarskyi emphasized.

Ukrainian territories may contain not only anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, but also unexploded artillery ammunition, aerial bombs, cluster munitions remnants, improvised explosive devices and modern fuzes. No single mechanical tool can provide a universal solution to the entire range of such threats.

“Building Confidence” Requires Clear Criteria

The term “confidence-building machines” also requires careful use. For regulatory and technical documents, it would be more appropriate to use the legally more precise concept of “confirmation of safety.” However, even this term may only be used after objective criteria, verification procedures and areas of responsibility have been defined.

The Next Step Is Research and Testing

Following the meeting, the participants agreed to continue the expert dialogue on possible approaches to using mechanical rollers in areas that had previously been contaminated by explosive ordnance. At the same time, all parties emphasized that any new technical solutions may only be considered as an additional risk-management tool and must be introduced on the basis of scientifically sound research, appropriate testing, and strict compliance with international mine action standards and the national legislation of Ukraine.