Underwater demining course for 24 State Emergency Service sapper-divers concluded in Cherkasy

Course recap: SES sapper-diver training

According to ДСНС: In Cherkasy, officials gathered for a wrap-up session marking the completion of an underwater demining course for 24 Ukrainian sapper-divers from the State Emergency Service (SES), which was run by French instructors. The training focused on the use of autonomous underwater vehicles, sonar data processing with the SonarWiz program, and handling remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs). The project is intended to enhance Ukraine's humanitarian demining capabilities.

The course itself took place in Cherkasy, with participants coming from SES units in different regions of Ukraine. Senior SES leadership and representatives of the French Embassy in Ukraine attended the closing session. The instruction covered three main areas:

• operating an autonomous underwater vehicle to survey water areas,
• analyzing data with the SonarWiz software package,
• deploying ROVs for underwater inspection and scanning water bodies.

Project goals and broader impact

The overarching aim of the project is to develop a national strategy for humanitarian demining, improve coordination among stakeholders, and introduce modern technologies across Ukraine. Training sapper-divers in this field is a significant step toward securing waterways and equipping personnel with the skills needed for effective operations.

This training programme is a vital part of Ukraine's broader effort to build up its humanitarian demining capacities, particularly in water environments. Collaboration with partners such as France highlights the importance of international assistance in a field where reducing risks can directly improve public safety. Underwater demining is widely regarded as one of the most technically demanding and hazardous forms of mine action.

As Ukraine continues to enhance its emergency response capabilities, recent advancements in technology play a crucial role. For instance, Ukrainian rescuers have been testing innovative solutions like robots and drones in the Carpathian region. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to improve operational efficiency and safety in various challenging environments. To learn more about how these technologies are being integrated, see the full story on the deployment of advanced robotic systems in rescue operations.