MINE ACTION CENTER: MAIN ASPECTS OF ACTIVITY AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS

Abstract

Statement of the Problem. Ukraine is one of the ten countries with the most explosive contaminated territory, and this situation tends to worsen due to the scale of military operations and the use of so-called “mine warfare” tactics. Therefore, the сreation of an effective mine action system, taking into account the needs of safe demining of the territory of Ukraine from explosive objects, is a priority task at the national level.
 Analysis of recent research and publications. The analysis of professional literature has shown that the issues of creating an effective mine action system, improving the regulatory framework based on international experience, problems and ways to solve humanitarian demining, and the impact of explosive hazards on the environment are in the focus of attention of the scientific community. The issue of development and improvement of the mine action system has become even more urgent and requires further development taking into account the principles of international humanitarian law and measures to minimize the danger caused by explosive hazards.
 The purpose of the article is to study the activities and identify promising ways of development of the Center for Mine Action in the conditions of the legal regime of martial law.
 In Ukraine there is an effective mine action system with clear subordination to the National Mine Action Agency. In order to implement mine action measures in practice, the Mine Action Center was established, which has an effective mine clearance quality management system, including certification of mine action operators (Certification Agency) and control of demining quality (Inspection Agency).
 Within the framework of international cooperation, joint projects are implemented with foreign countries, international organizations and institutions, in which the Mine Action Center is an active participant. A system of training and advanced training of the Mine Action Center’s personnel involved in demining has been implemented.
 Promising ways of developing mine action within the competence of the Mine Action Center include the following: expanding the scope of accreditation of the Certification Agency; improvement of normative and legal acts of mine countermeasures (amendments to existing ones and creation of new ones); increasing the effectiveness of mine action tasks by conducting applied and fundamental research within the authority of the scientific research laboratory.