Ukraine update: Helping reclaim the land

Nearly five years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, millions of explosive devices continue to threaten communities across Ukraine. HALO is working to identify and clear hazardous land, restore access to farmland and essential infrastructure, and give people the knowledge they need to stay safe.

Every area cleared opens a path forward. Farmers can return to their fields. Families can begin to reclaim their homes and communities. And people can take another step toward a safer future.

Although fighting continues along relatively static frontlines, explosive devices have been placed across farmland, neighborhoods, roads, and other areas where people live and work.

For many Ukrainians, the fear of encountering a mine remains part of everyday life. Parents may worry about where their children can safely play. Farmers may be unable to return to land their families depend on. Roads and other essential areas can remain out of reach.

Yet Ukrainians continue to show remarkable determination to reclaim their land and rebuild their lives. HALO teams are working alongside communities to identify hazardous areas, clear explosive ordnance, and safely return land to the people who need it.

As of June 2026, HALO teams had mostly completed the initial survey of areas outlined by Ukraine’s National Mine Action Center (NMAC). Work is now expanding into additional areas, helping identify and prioritize land for future clearance.

Since February 2022, HALO has released nearly 6,000 acres of land, including more than 2,000 football fields-worth of agricultural land. Agricultural land accounts for 45% of all land HALO has released since the full-scale invasion began.

For farmers, that means being able to return to the fields, grow crops, and support their families. For communities, it means restoring livelihoods, economic activity, and food security.

Creating safer communities takes more than clearing landmines. It also means investing in local people so they have the skills to protect their communities for years to come.

With support from GlobalGiving, HALO Ukraine delivered four Train the Trainer sessions for 75 teachers from five regions of Ukraine. Educators learned how to teach others to recognize explosive hazards and stay safe, building local expertise.

For these educators, the training was empowering. They learned how to explain the dangers of explosive ordnance in ways that resonate with children, farmers, people with disabilities, and other demographic groups. Each teacher now carries that knowledge into classrooms, community halls, and local networks, helping more Ukrainians stay safe.

As Ukraine looks toward recovery, strengthening local capacity is an increasingly important part of HALO's work. By working alongside Ukrainian educators, organizations, and communities, HALO is helping to enhance the local knowledge and expertise needed to sustain progress for years to come.

There is still much work to be done. But every area surveyed, every mine cleared, and every person reached with safety information brings Ukraine closer to a future where communities can safely reclaim their land and rebuild their lives.

HALO is grateful to GlobalGiving for its support and commitment to communities affected by conflict. Together, we are making land safe and strengthening the local skills and resilience that will help Ukrainian communities build a safer future for generations to come.