Ukrainian demining innovations
As the war continues, Ukraine has gained immense practical expertise in demining, becoming an unlikely but vital center of innovation in this life-saving field. Our team is committed not only to supplying equipment but to helping develop and test the tools of tomorrow. Between April and June 2025, Prytula Foundation USA and Ukraine Rises supported certified field testing of two cutting-edge technologies for humanitarian demining in Kharkiv Oblast: the ZMIY robotic demining complex and the ST1 aerial reconnaissance drone. Tests were conducted by the national operator “Humanitarian Security” across real contaminated sites and evaluated under IMAC protocol standards. This effort aimed to assess technical performance, field readiness, and potential for scalable integration into humanitarian mine action (HMA) activities.
Key Features of the Project
ZMIY ground robot: agile and adaptable
Designed for narrow and complex terrains, ZMIY demonstrated strong maneuverability and remote control accuracy but requires upgrades to engine cooling and component durability for extended use.
Productivity potential with caveats
While average daily performance was limited (0.15–0.4 ha/day), short bursts of high efficiency showed that with improved engine and chain systems, the robot can meet its full productivity range (up to 1.8 ha/day).
ST1 drone: high-resolution imaging + AI detection
The ST1 drone excelled in visual inspection mode, identifying large explosive remnants of war with up to 55% accuracy, and showed strong integration with AI algorithms for hazard recognition.
Most effective in non-technical survey
ST1’s highest impact was in non-technical survey of suspected hazardous areas (SHA/CHA), where it confirmed explosive contamination across six zones totaling over 161 hectares.
$225,000
Grant amount
Each dollar makes difference
Why this project matters
Supporting the development of Ukrainian-made technologies we make humanitarian demining faster, safer, and more effective. By field-testing drones and robots in real war-affected areas, we’re helping turn Ukraine’s frontline experience into global solutions that save lives.
Main goal of this project is to build a technical foundation for further R&D, AI integration, and localized manufacturing of demining technologies in Ukraine.
Increase safety and productivity of humanitarian demining missions through technology-supported processes.
Validate functional performance of robotic and drone systems under real-world field conditions.
Identify design limitations and areas for improvement to prepare these systems for mass deployment.
Reduce sapper workload and operational risk by integrating autonomous support into manual and technical survey workflows.
