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Key developments since May 2001: In December 2001, Ukraine and NATO signed a framework agreement for destruction of Ukraine’s PMN mines. In 2001, Ukrainian deminers cleared 15,500 mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), most left from World War II.
Ukraine signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 24 February 1999, shortly after signing an agreement with Canada for the destruction of its antipersonnel mine stockpiles.[1] A key stumbling block to Ukraine’s ratification of the treaty continues to be working out the destruction of its significant mine stockpile within the four years required by the treaty. (For previous discussion of this issue, see Landmine Monitor Report 2001, pp. 839-840, as well as Stockpiling and Destruction section below.)
On 5 December 2001, in Kiev, Ukraine and Canada signed a “Joint Declaration On Continuing Development of the Special Partnership Between Canada and Ukraine.”[2] Regarding the Mine Ban Treaty, the Joint Declaration pledges to “Continue active cooperation in implementing the obligations of the Ottawa Convention, the Framework Arrangement Between the Government of Canada and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the Destruction of Anti-Personnel Landmines in Ukraine and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the NATO Maintenance and Supply Organization on Logistic Support Cooperation and work towards ratification of the Ottawa Convention as soon as possible.”[3]
In late 2001, the Committee on Defense and National Security of the Ukrainian Parliament and the State Commission on the Defense Industrial Complex were given additional responsibilities for implementation of the treaty.[4] The State Commission on the Defense Industrial Complex has the main role in developing and coordinating national policy on military-technical cooperation with foreign countries and organizations, and for coordination and control of national activities on the destruction of arms, including landmines.[5]
From 4-5 February 2002, at a meeting organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) with Ukrainian and Canadian officials, the Head of the Ukrainian Interdepartmental Working Group on Landmines, Lieutenant-General Tereschenko, declared that Ukraine might be able to initiate the ratification process in the parliament in October-November 2002, even earlier than, as the Canadian delegation suggested, in March 2002, when Ukraine held Parliamentary elections.[6]
Ukraine did not attend the Third Meeting of States Parties in September 2001 because of funding constraints.[7] Ukraine did participate in the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in January and May 2002. Government representatives also attended landmine conferences in Warsaw in June 2001, in Moscow in June 2001, in Washington, DC in July 2001, and in Athens in October 2001.[8]
On 29 November 2001, Ukraine cosponsored and voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 56/24M, calling for universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.
Ukraine is a party to Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW). It attended the third annual meeting of States Parties to CCW Amended Protocol II and the Second CCW Review Conference in December 2001. At the Review Conference in December 2001, Anatoliy Scherba, Head of the Ukraine Delegation, noted the government’s concern with explosive remnants of war (ERW). He stated that “in particular, we strongly believe that the problem of explosive remnants of war should be addressed by the international community as a matter of urgency given the fact that these remnants in many respects constitute the same type of hazard to civilians as mines do and that many countries including some European ones have been affected by ERW. Ukraine has a first-hand experience of the adverse consequences of this problem as well as of its considerable financial and technical implications. Therefore we believe that the world community should take the opportunity provided by the current Conference to consider the ways to minimize the incidence of unexploded ordnance and support a mandate calling for further work on the ERW issue.”[9]
During 2001, the Ukrainian Campaign to Ban Landmines (UCBL), formed in November 1998, continued its activities.[10] In October 2001, the popular Ukrainian television program “Snyadanok z 1+1” and UCBL organized a discussion about landmines in Afghanistan. On 24 October 2001, United Nations Day, the Ukrainian Peacekeepers Veterans Association (UPVA), and Ukrainian UN Association organized a meeting at the Parliament Library in Kiev, with the participation of the Deputy Foreign Minister among others. Discussion focused on the Ukraine and the Mine Ban Treaty, and international mine action programs.[11]
Under the Soviet Union, Ukraine produced components for Soviet mines, but the government has repeatedly stated that Ukraine has not been involved in production since its independence.[12]
Ukraine has a moratorium on the export of antipersonnel mines in place through 2003.[13] In 2001, at the request of the Pentagon, a US company tried to purchase 3,000-4,000 landmines from “UKRSPECEXPORT,” the main Ukrainian State arms trade company, for training military personnel and for research and development. The Ukrainian Ministry of Justice did not sign the contract in accordance with Ukraine’s moratorium on the export of landmines.[14] Subsequently, the Ukrainian government prepared a special resolution on the procedures for mine transfer for training purposes, in accordance with the text of the Mine Ban Treaty. Monitoring of the situation will be provided the the State Commission on Defense Industrial Complex.[15]
The Ministry of Defense states that antipersonnel mines have not been used on Ukrainian territory since World War II. However, Ukrainian police have recorded individual cases of criminal use of landmines. The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported about 67 incidents of criminals using of mines and UXO in 2001.[16]
Ukraine inherited a large stockpile of mines from the Soviet Union. It has 6.35 million antipersonnel mines that must be destroyed, including 404,903 PMN mines and 5,947,596 PFM-1/1-S mines. In March 2001, Canada and Ukraine signed a Framework Arrangement for assistance in antipersonnel mine destruction that establishes a Coordination Committee on stockpile destruction in Ukraine. (For previous discussion on stockpiles, their locations, and developments in the joint destruction project, which has moved more slowly than anticipated, see Landmine Monitor Report 2001, pp. 841-842, and Landmine Monitor Report 2000, pp. 786-787.)
At the first meeting of the Coordinating Committee on 7 September 2001, Ukraine requested the UN Development Program to be Project Manager of future destruction efforts and designated its State Commission on the Defense and Industrial Complex as the national counterpart.[17]
On 5 December 2001, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, John Manley, visited Kiev and discussed future cooperation with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, Prime Minister Anatoliy Kinakh, and Foreign Minister Anatoliy Zlenko. During a public event at the Diplomatic Academy in Kiev, Manley said, “We are also proud to sponsor the first large-scale project in this country to destroy the antipersonnel landmine stockpile, following on a Framework Agreement, signed by Foreign Minister Zlenko and myself in Ottawa last March. Hopefully, with such a start, Ukraine may soon rid itself of landmine stockpiles and join the 122 countries which have now ratified the Ottawa Convention, which Ukraine signed in 1999. It is an incredible record of cooperation—with so much accomplished between us in such a very short time.”[18]
On 6 December 2001, President Kuchma signed an order requiring the National Defense and Security Council, the Ministry of Defense, and the Cabinet of Ministers to immediately take all measures to expedite the weapons and ammunition destruction process.[19] From 8-12 January 2002, a special government commission completed inspections of all the arsenals and stockpiles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including engineer’s arms and mines.[20]
On 14 February 2002, the Atlantic Council of Ukraine, International Fund for Social Adaptation of Retired Military Personnel, and the Embassy of Norway to Ukraine organized an international conference in Kiev to discuss problems on the reorganization of the military system in Ukraine, and the liquidation of stockpiles. Representatives of NATO, the European Commission, and foreign diplomatic corps took part.
From 21-23 June 2001, a Ukrainian delegation visited Moscow to discuss research and development (R&D) efforts on the destruction of PFM-1 mines; the visit was organized by the Russian “Basalt” and “ECODEM” companies. The Ukrainian delegation signed a framework agreement with Russia on joint cooperation on R&D on the best technology to destroy PFM-1 landmines.
During consultations from 23-26 July 2001, with representatives from UNDP’s Mine Action Unit, the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) and the government of Canada, the Ukrainian government agreed to the basic concepts of a PFM-1 destruction program.[21]
On 15 March 2002, during a regional seminar in Kiev, Ukrainian officials stated that standard specifications on the destruction of PFM mines would be determined by mid-year, followed by an announcement of the results of the international tender on destruction of PFM-1 mines.[22] As of July 2002, however, no technology had been selected for the destruction of PFM-1 mines in Ukraine.
From 18-19 October 2001, Ukraine took part in a NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) “Workshop on Regionally Focused Mine Action” in Athens. Discussions were held on a future PfP Trust Fund project in Ukraine to destroy more than 400,000 PMN mines, to be carried out by NATO’s Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA).
On 6 December 2001, in Brussels, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anatoliy Zlenko, signed an implementation agreement with NAMSA on the destruction of the PMN mines.[23] A Canadian delegation worked in Kiev on the implementation of the agreement on 4-5 February 2002, headed by the Canadian Ambassador for Mine Action, Dan Livermore.[24]
On 27 February 2002, NAMSA signed a technical agreement with Spivdruzhnist, a Ukrainian company, providing that Ukraine should destroy the mines in one year and four months.[25] On 14 March 2002, NAMSA signed an agreement with Spivdruzhnist and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine to transport 404,000 PMN-1 and PMP-2 antipersonnel mines to Spivdruzhnist for destruction. The head of Spivdruzhnist stated that the destruction would use Ukrainian equipment, technologies, and labor.
Ukraine is still affected by mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) from World War II. According to new information from the Engineers Command of the Ministry of Defense, between 1945-1992 more than 62 million mines and UXO were cleared, with more than 85,000 deminers taking part in mine clearance operations.[26]
In 2001, Ukraine carried out 1,052 operations involving demining or explosive ordnance disposal, an increase of 4.3 percent over 2000; some 15,500 mines and UXO were cleared. Since achieving independence in 1992, Ukrainian demining teams have collected more than 370,000 mines and UXO. Approximately 260,000 hectares of land have been cleared.[27]
For clearance purposes, Ukraine is divided into 497 areas of responsibility; of these, the Ministry of Defense is responsible for demining in 442 areas, and the Ministry of Emergencies is responsible for demining in 55 areas. In some cases, for example with improvised explosive devices, special police teams are employed.[28] There are no systematic mine risk education programs in Ukraine. During mine clearance operations, deminers meet with the local population and educate them on the rules of behavior when they come across UXO.
Ukraine has continued to participate in United Nations demining operations abroad. The Ukrainian 3rd Separate Engineers Battalion is carrying out demining operations in southern Lebanon.[29] In 2001, a Ukrainian-Polish Joint Peacekeeping Battalion conducted demining operations in Kosovo. [30]
In 2002, bilateral cooperation between the Ministries of Defense of Ukraine and Belarus has included studying the experiences of Ukrainian engineers in UN demining operations, as well as cooperation on the destruction of stockpiles of landmines.[31]
Ukrainian demining units preparing to take part in UN demining operations in Lebanon and Africa participated in training sessions at the Ukrainian International Demining Training Center (IDTC) in Kamenets Podolsky. From June 2001-February 2002, training sessions at IDTC focused on demining, data collection, minefield mapping and marking, and other technical areas. In November 2001, the Ministry of Defense sent an official letter to the UN Mine Action Service and asked about procedures for UN certification and accreditation for the Ukrainian Demining Center and the new demining company “UROORONSEVRVICE.”
In 2001, there were 18 mine and UXO casualties in Ukraine; 14 people were killed and four people were injured.[32]
In accordance with the national law for veterans and persons with disabilities, Ukraine provided financial support for medical rehabilitation in sanatoriums for 29,469 war disabled, including 3,150 landmine survivors, in 2001.
On 3 December 2001, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and Ukrainian parliamentarians took part in an official ceremony to mark the opening of a new national center near Kiev for the medical and social rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. The center’s activities will include vocational training.[33]
In 2001, President Kuchma signed a series of new State decrees to improve social protection and medical support for veterans, persons with disabilities, and victims of war, including mine survivors.[34]
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[1] “Memorandum on Mutually Beneficial Cooperation between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ukraine on Destruction of Antipersonnel Landmines Stockpiled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Prohibited by the [Mine Ban Treaty],” 28 January 1999.
[2] See: canadaeuropa.gc.ca/country_ukr_f-7-e.asp.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Statement of Sergey Pashinskiy, Director, Ukrainian Mine Action Information Center, at the Annual Meeting of the Ukrainian Peacekeepers Association, 24 October 2001.
[5] Order of the Government of Ukraine, 26 October 2001.
[6] Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Express News Agency, 6 February 2002, see: www.defense-ua.com.
[7] Report of Engineers Forces Command, Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, 18 September 2001.
[8] Ukrainian Mine Action Information Center, Annual Report 2001.
[9] Statement of Anatoliy Scherba, Head of the Delegation of Ukraine, to the Second CCW Review Conference, Geneva, December 2001.
[10] UCBL coordination is provided by Ukrainian Peacekeepers Association and the information network is managed by the Ukrainian Mine Action Information Center.
[11] Press Release, Ukrainian Peacekeepers Veterans Association, 25 October 2001; see also: www.mineaction.org/misc/resultdisplayproject.cfm?pro_ID=191.
[12] Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 841.
[13] Order of the Prime Minister of Ukraine, No. 426, 22 March 1999; See Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 841.
[14] Order of the Prime Minister of Ukraine, No. 426, 22 March 1999.
[15] Information provided by Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and Colonel Zahazhevsky, US Department of Defense.
[16] Ministry of Emergencies, Annual Report 2001, see: www.mns.gov.ua.
[17] Protocol of Coordinating Meeting, PFM Series APL Destruction Project in Ukraine, 7 September 2001; UNDP Project “Support to Ukraine Stockpile Destruction,” accessed at: www.mineaction.org on 22 July 2002.
[18] Statement of former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, John Manley, at the Kiev Institute of International Relations and the Diplomatic Academy, 5 December 2001.
[19] Order of President of Ukraine, No. 1195/2001, 6 December 2001.
[20] LigaOnline (press agency), accessed at: www.liga.kiev.ua/lenta/get.html?id=31370 on 8 January 2002.
[21] UNDP, Ukraine Report, 7 September 2001.
[22] Statement of Lt.-Gen. V. Tereshenko, Head of Ukrainian Inter-Agency Working Team on the Destruction of Mines, Kiev, 15 March 2002.
[23] See: www.ukraine.ru/stories/01/11/08/1973/91394.html.
[24] Defense Express (news agency) report, 6 February 2002, accessed at: www.defense-ua.com.
[25] Ibid.
[26] Press Release, Ministry of Defense Press Service, 3 November 2001.
[27] Ibid.
[28] Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 843.
[29] Press Release, Ministry of Defense Press Service, 3 November 2001.
[30] Press Release, Ministry of Defense Press Service, February 2002.
[31] “Status and Prospects of Cooperation Between Ministries of Defense of Ukraine and Republic of Byelorussia,” Defense Express, 11 January 2002.
[32] Ukrainian Ministry of Emergencies, Annual Report 2001, 14 February 2002, available at: www.mns.gov.ua.
[33] Press Release, Ukrainian Department for Veterans Affairs, 4 December 2001
[34] Press Release No. 23, Ukrainian Department for Veterans Affairs, December 2001.
