From hazard to harvest
Demining the village of Vasylivka
From March to November of 2022, the village of Vasylivka in Mykolaiv was occupied by Russian forces. They turned the area into a hazardous zone by planting anti-vehicle and anti-personnel landmines. They laid these in strategic sites like the banks of the Inhulets River, grazing pastures, farm fields, forest edges, and an old orchard. This put residents’ lives in danger. It also devastated the local economy and blocked access to important farmland, grazing areas, and roads.
In March 2023, The HALO Trust began demining Vasylivka. HALO focused on clearing key areas that were cut off by anti-vehicle landmines - grazing pastures, farm fields, and the historical orchard. The strips of forest and riverbanks used for grazing and transport were also focus areas.
Landmine clearance along the banks of the Inhulets River.
One year later, HALO cleared over 4 acres of land, destroying over 275 explosives. 65 residents were able to return to this land. Among them are farmers and livestock owners who were able to safely return to their work. This was only possible thanks to the incredible partnership of GlobalGiving and other donors.
Left: A line of 256 anti-tank mines discovered by HALO along the river bank, photographed in March 2023. Right: Village head, Ivan, stands on the same spot in February 2025, all the mines have been safely removed.
But the impact of this clearance extends far beyond these 4 acres. It opened up access to an additional 69 acres of land. This includes farm fields, grazing pastures, and transportation routes that were too dangerous to reach before.
“Before the demining, we couldn’t even walk to our fields. Now, I can grow wheat and sunflowers again. It’s not just about income—it’s about hope.”
“It was heartbreaking to see the orchard abandoned. We’ve been able to return, harvest the fruit, and start selling again. It feels like life is coming back to our village.”
Over 60% of residents started using the land again right away. HALO’s work in Vasylivka has not only made the land safe again, but has also brought back economic opportunity and hope for the future. The cleared land is now used for planting crops, grazing livestock, and rebuilding livelihoods. Better road access has allowed for more transport and trade, supporting the village’s recovery efforts.
After being struck by a ballistic missile, this Vasylivka school was cleared of explosives and handed back to the community in Spring of 2024.
GlobalGiving was one of the very first partners to support HALO’s humanitarian and demining work in Ukraine after the full-scale invasion, and together we are helping families and farmers reclaim their homes and livelihoods.
GlobalGiving's support for HALO's work is keeping Ukrainian families safe.
