Government Simplifies Demining Conditions for Farmers: No Escrow Accounts and 100% Expense Compensation

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has initiated a new humanitarian demining program for the agricultural sector set for 2026, which opens avenues for farmers to obtain 100% compensation for expenses related to clearing their lands of mines. This information was reported by the Humanitarian Demining Center (HDC), emphasizing the importance of this initiative for restoring agricultural land in Ukraine.

The program is designed for farmers, state agricultural enterprises, and individual farmers who intend to clear their lands. A key requirement for participation in the program is confirmation from the Center for Mine Action that the lands are contaminated or potentially contaminated with explosive objects. Additionally, farmers must be free of tax debts, sanctions, or ties to the Russian Federation.

According to the new rules, participants in the program must meet a number of criteria. They cannot be under sanctions from the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) or the European Union, must not have tax debts, and must not have ultimate beneficiaries linked to the aggressor state. It is also crucial that candidates are not in bankruptcy proceedings and do not have connections with mine action operators who conduct demining on their plots.

The program covers 100% of the cost of new demining works, as well as reimbursement of 80% of expenses for plots that farmers have cleared at their own expense from February 2022 to mid-April 2024. Applications for participation in the program are accepted through the State Agricultural Register (DAR), simplifying the process for farmers.

Furthermore, the government has eased the rules for farmers: there is no longer a requirement to open special escrow accounts in banks for financing the works. Now, payment for demining is directly handled by the Humanitarian Demining Center, significantly reducing administrative barriers for farmers.

Since the program's implementation, which was introduced to support the agricultural sector, over 15,000 hectares of cleared land have already been returned to economic circulation. This highlights the success of the initiative and its significance for the recovery of agriculture in Ukraine.

It is worth noting that the state budget for 2026 allocates 2 billion hryvnias for the demining of agricultural lands, underscoring the government’s serious intentions to support farmers and restore agricultural production in the country.