{"id":21869,"date":"2026-03-30T08:00:56","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T06:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.h2o-drones.com\/?p=21869"},"modified":"2026-03-31T17:15:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:15:11","slug":"rov-systems-advance-ukraines-underwater-demining-efforts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.h2o-drones.com\/en\/nieuws-en\/rov-systems-advance-ukraines-underwater-demining-efforts\/","title":{"rendered":"Underwater ROV Systems Advance Ukraine\u2019s Underwater Demining Efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0The United Nations Development Programme<\/a>\u00a0(UNDP) is strengthening Ukraine\u2019s national underwater demining capability by funding, delivering, and coordinating the equipment, training, and operational frameworks required for civil agencies to safely locate and identify explosive hazards in aquatic environments. Central to this effort is the deployment of the Deep Trekker REVOLUTION Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), paired with structured operator and instructor training for the agencies responsible for field operations.<\/p>\n

With contamination estimated across 13,500 km\u00b2 of rivers, canals, reservoirs, and coastal waters, Ukraine\u2019s underwater demining challenge requires tools that can operate where visibility, currents, and risk make diver-first approaches impractical. Portable ROV systems now allow national agencies to perform remote visual identification and sonar assessment of suspected explosive remnants of war before committing divers.<\/p>\n

Since early 2025, Deep Trekker has supported UNDP\u2019s program through two dedicated missions in Ukraine, delivering hands-on training, technical support, and procedural development. These activities are focused on enabling\u00a0SESU<\/a>,\u00a0SSTS<\/a>, the\u00a0National Police<\/a>, and\u00a0National Mine Action<\/a>\u00a0authorities to independently conduct underwater search, identification, and survey tasks. A key outcome of this work is the establishment of Ukraine\u2019s first unified group of certified underwater ROV instructors, tasked with training operators nationwide.<\/p>\n

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UNDP\u2019s Civil Demining Program in Ukraine<\/h3>\n

UNDP\u2019s Mine Action Programme is focused on restoring safe access to critical waterways, supporting local communities, and reducing the long-term impact of explosive remnants of war, concentrating on providing the funding, equipment, training, and operational frameworks that enable Ukrainian authorities to carry out underwater demining activities.<\/p>\n

Current estimates indicate that only 1.41% of contaminated aquatic territory has been cleared to date (approximately 190 km\u00b2), despite the removal of more than 2,800 explosive devices by SESU dive teams since the start of the full-scale invasion. This gap reflects the scale and complexity of underwater explosive contamination rather than a lack of operational effort.<\/p>\n

By supplying ROV systems and coordinating multi-agency training, UNDP is addressing a critical bottleneck: the ability to assess underwater hazards safely and consistently before diver deployment. This approach reduces risk to personnel while allowing agencies to prioritize clearance operations based on verified data.<\/p>\n

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This mission is funded through international donor support, with contributions from France, Korea, the Netherlands, and Denmark, all of which play a decisive role in enabling equipment delivery and capacity-building efforts across Ukraine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Deployment of the REVOLUTION ROV Across Ukrainian Agencies<\/h3>\n

To date, a total of 52\u00a0REVOLUTION ROV<\/a>\u00a0systems have been delivered under UNDP-supported civil underwater demining initiatives in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

The first tranche, consisting of 16 REVOLUTION ROVs, was delivered to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU\/DSNS) and placed into operational service. Building on this foundation, the second tranche of 36 underwater drones has now been assigned across four national agencies:<\/p>\n

The second tranche allocations include 22 REVOLUTION systems to the Special State Transportation Service (SSTS), a Ministry of Defense\u2013dependent civil authority; 8 systems to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU\/DSNS), building on its Tranche 1 deployment; 4 systems to the National Police of Ukraine for evidence documentation and hazard marking; and 2 systems to the National Mine Action Center (NMAC) to support coordination of national standards and demining methodology.<\/p>\n

These allocations confirm the REVOLUTION as the benchmark for civil underwater demining inside Ukraine.<\/p>\n

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Field reports from recent deployments show immediate operational utility. During training in Cherkasy, SESU operators used the ROV to inspect missile damage to a dam on the Dnipro River, collecting sonar and video data in strong currents and turbid water – an environment unsuitable for divers.<\/p>\n

Training Framework: From Operator Skills to Instructor-Level Capability<\/h3>\n

Deep Trekker has delivered two structured training phases in Ukraine during 2025, aligned with UNDP\u2019s capacity-building objectives.<\/p>\n

Operator-Focused Training (May 2025)<\/strong><\/h4>\n