Ukraine: “Every time my detector signals, my heart races” — deminer

Many of those stepping into humanitarian demining in Ukraine had no prior experience in the field. Yet, they chose to take on this risky, vital task to help make their homeland safe. The recruitment process mirrors that of other professions, though with one key difference: an intensive five-week training course.

During this period, recruits gain theoretical knowledge about various munitions and learn safety protocols. Once this foundation is laid, they move on to practical exercises—scanning land, identifying threats, marking them, and learning how to excavate them safely. Only if you pass the training successfully can you start work on the real site.

From a pawnshop to a demining site

One such recruit is Veronika, a 36-year-old woman who made a bold career change in 2025 to join the Danish Refugee Council’s (DRC) demining team.

"I saw the vacancy and felt it was time to act," Veronika recalls. "I wanted to help make our land safe again."

For ten years, Veronika had worked in a pawnshop in Mykolaiv. Her sudden career shift surprised her family. “But I’m an adult. I can make my own choices,” she says with a laugh. “They sighed and accepted it eventually. Honestly, I was craving something active—I’d had enough of sitting behind a desk.”

Since April 2025, Veronika has been out in the fields, uncovering the wreckage of war. So far, she has only discovered remnants—shell fragments, unexploded debris—but the unpredictability is part of the job.

"Every time my detector signals, my heart races. But the training really prepares you. We follow strict protocols to keep ourselves and our team safe.”

Thanks to the funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, her team is currently working in the agrarian fields in the Mykolaiv Oblast—land that was either occupied by the Russian Federation Armed Forces or suffered from massive shelling in 2022-2023. These fields are now laced with mines and explosive ordnance. But once cleared, they will return to life, ready again for sowing crops and grazing livestock.

Despite the danger, Veronika remains steady. "Living in Ukraine means dealing with the aftermath of full-scale war. It’s hard everywhere—physically and mentally. I stayed in Mykolaiv during the worst shelling. That was tough. I believe every job is difficult, but if you enjoy what you do, the challenges become bearable.”

She also finds inspiration in her colleagues, who come from all walks of life.