Protecting Communities and Building Strategic Foundations for Recovery: UNOPS and UCRF Partner to Strengthen National Police EOD Capacity in Ukraine

Kyiv, 3 August 2026 - Across Ukraine, extensive explosive ordnance contamination continues to pose severe risks to civilian populations. From conventional munitions to improvised explosive devices (IEDs), threats regularly emerge in densely populated urban centers, recently liberated areas, and in close proximity to critical infrastructure. In this context, the National Police of Ukraine (NPU) works as a critical nationwide provider of security services. The NPU responds to explosive threats in communities, representing the frontline of protection for millions of Ukrainian citizens.

To address the evolving threats and ensure safe conditions for social and economic revitalization, UNOPS is partnering with the NPU to expand the institution's EOD operational capacities.

UNOPS will deliver a package of support designed to modernize the Police’s equipment and sharpen technical expertise:

• Advanced specialized equipment: Providing specialized tools to enhance the safety, precision, and efficiency of police EOD teams working in high-risk environments.
• Capacity building and awareness: support will cover experienced EOD officers as well as community police officers, educational safety officers, and juvenile police officers, tailored to their respective roles and competencies. Community officers from frontline regions, are often the first responders to explosive ordnance incidents, will learn to recognize threats and safeguard civilians. Educational safety officers and juvenile police officers, who conduct outreach in educational institutions, will also be engaged; enhancing their risk awareness is a crucial step in fostering a culture of safety among children and teenagers. Meanwhile, experienced EOD officers will participate in Train-the-Trainer courses and receive mentorship to subsequently instruct their colleagues in disposing of explosive hazards, including IEDs.

Funded through the Ukraine Community Recovery Fund (UCRF), this initiative reflects the Fund’s core strategic mission: bridging the vital gap between emergency humanitarian response and long-term development by laying the strategic foundations for Ukraine's recovery. By investing directly in national governance and public safety structures, the UCRF supports sustainable, locally led solutions.

“The National Police faces an unprecedented volume and diversity of explosive threats. Compared to the period before 2022, our workload has multiplied hundreds of times,” explains Volodymyr Khomenko, Head of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department of the National Police of Ukraine. “Our EOD experts are one of the first on site when a drone strike occurs, and these strikes are unfortunately very regular. International assistance is invaluable to us. This project will provide officers with highly valuable tools and help us standardise training across teams. We are grateful for the support and look forward to turning plans into reality.”

“Recovery begins with safety. Across Ukraine, the National Police are often the first responders to incidents involving explosive hazards, playing a critical role in protecting communities and enabling people to safely return to their daily lives,” said Massimo Diana, Director of UNOPS Ukraine and East Europe. “Through this partnership, supported by the Ukraine Community Recovery Fund, UNOPS is investing not only in equipment and technical capabilities but also in strengthening Ukraine's national institutional capacity. By supporting the National Police to lead explosive ordnance disposal operations, we are helping create the conditions for safe recovery today while reinforcing the institutions that will sustain Ukraine's resilience for years to come.”

By aligning response standards, training curricula, and operational protocols with international best practices and Ukraine's National Mine Action Standards (NMAS), the initiative directly reinforces national recovery priorities and broader European integration pathways. Ultimately, this investment means fewer civilian casualties, faster rehabilitation of local infrastructure, and a safer return to normal life for communities across Ukraine.