Prince Harry praises courage and ingenuity of HALO's Ukrainian deminers

Images from the visit can be downloaded from here.

B-roll footage of the visit is available from here.

Bucha, Ukraine, April 24: The Duke of Sussex joined the HALO Trust, the largest humanitarian landmine clearance organisation in the world, near the town of Bucha in Ukraine for a demonstration of the latest digital de-mining technology today.  

Wearing a pilot headset, Prince Harry flew an AI-powered drone which detects and maps the position of lethal explosives. He then operated a robot used to remove explosives from the ground. 

“It’s amazing to see technology transform the work of the HALO Trust—making mine clearance smarter, faster and safer” he said. 

“When my mother visited Angola nearly thirty years ago, deminers carried out their work on their hands and knees to uncover hidden explosives. Now they’re also using drones, AI and robots for greater precision and protection. 

“This isn't just progress — it's lifesaving. HALO’s deminers help farmers to plant and harvest the land without fear and despite the war. Their efforts mean that, one day, displaced Ukrainians can return home to safe communities. 

“I’m incredibly proud to support this new generation of mine clearance. Ukraine is still at war, but HALO’s work brings safety and hope.”   

The Duke also paid his respects at Bucha’s memorial to the civilian victims of the Russian occupation that took place between 27 February and 31 March 2022. The atrocities committed in the town triggered international condemnation at the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago.  

The land and buildings around Bucha were left littered with deadly mines and unexploded munitions including missiles, bombs and grenades; a legacy of the fierce fighting which took place as Ukrainian troops repelled the Russian forces.  

Today – after years of work by HALO experts - much of the land around Bucha is now safe.  

Ivan Kovalchuk, who survived the occupation of the town, told HALO. 

“It was a terrible time and, even after the Russians were driven out, this place was still so dangerous. We couldn’t go into the fields because of all the explosives. It was frightening. But now, thanks to HALO, we have our lives back. We’re still at war but at least we can plant our crops again.” 

HALO has been clearing mines in Ukraine for a decade and continues its life-saving work despite the challenges of an ongoing conflict.  

In 2022 the Ukrainian government estimated that 174,000 square km of land, an area equivalent to twice the size of Austria, was potentially awash with landmines and other explosives. HALO’s experts, who have harnessed state of the art technology, have been able to confirm that over 29,000 km (roughly the size of Belgium) of this area is safe to use, allowing families to return to their homes and farmers to get back in their fields. The charity has destroyed over 60,000 explosive items.   

“The scale of the challenge in Ukraine is immense, and to clear land safely and at speed, mine action must be matched with technological innovation” explained Miles Hawthorn, HALO Ukraine Programme Director.  

“With the right investment in this new technology, we can work smarter, safer and faster than ever before.  

“A landmine can take a life in an instant - but it can also turn fertile land into a no-man's land for generations. This technology helps save lives while supporting the restoration of Ukraine’s agricultural sector—the backbone of its economy.” 

ENDS