After a harsh winter, demining operations are back in full force across Ukraine.
MAG teams have resumed work in the Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions, where contamination continues to threaten lives and livelihoods.
This spring, 25 new staff have completed their Basic Deminer Course and medical training, joining the recovery effort.
MAG’s team in Ukraine now exceeds 450 people – including 200 trained deminers – all working to make land safe again.
Erik, 34, who recently joined MAG as a deminer, said: “I’m happy to have chosen this job. I used to be a sailor and could have left Ukraine when the full-scale invasion started – we were due to sail to Colombia on a bulk carrier.
"But my family is here, and now it’s important to help create the conditions for a normal life in Ukraine in the future.”
Newly qualified deminer Mariia, 26, added: “I was on maternity leave when the full-scale invasion began, and I fled to Poland. It turned out that my father went to war. I couldn’t stay abroad and remain passive, so I came back. I started looking for a job because I had to support my child and family. When I decided to join MAG as a deminer, my father was a bit nervous. But like in any job, if you follow all the rules, you stay safe.
"What motivates me is that I want my son to live in a country free from explosive threats – a place where he can move freely, go wherever and whenever he wants. We don’t plan for him to go abroad – we want him to live, study, and potentially work here.”
MAG’s mechanical clearance capacity has been strengthened with the arrival of a new demining machine, donated by the Digger Foundation with support from the Swiss government.
Anastasiia, one of the operators, shares: “I’m a mother of two and a former combat medic. I served in the army for over a year. War changes people – they become addicted to adrenaline, and having children doesn’t stop them from making decisions to protect their motherland. On the contrary, this is exactly why we do this work – for our children and their safe future.”
Two additional remote mechanical demining machines to support clearance activities are expected to arrive later this year.
Daniel Davies, MAG Project Manager, said: “Our focus in 2026 is on growing internally, improving how we work, supporting our teams, and staying aligned with national priorities – building a strong foundation for long-term impact.”
