The Director General of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), H.E. Heng Ratana, welcomed a high-level Ukrainian delegation to Phnom Penh on October 17 for a knowledge-sharing visit supported by the Government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The delegation from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) was led by Mr. Reva Serhii, Head of the SESU Mine Action Department. The visit took place at CMAC’s headquarters as part of an ongoing collaboration focused on strengthening Ukraine’s capacity in mine clearance operations. Supported by JICA, the visit coincides with CMAC’s ongoing training program for Ukrainian trainees, which focuses on the operational use of demining machinery. The training aims to improve safety, efficiency, and effectiveness in clearing land contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW).

H.E. Ratana reaffirmed CMAC’s commitment to sharing its expertise in mine action with SESU personnel, emphasizing the importance of supporting operations in areas affected by ERW to protect civilian populations. He also expressed hope that Ukraine will soon achieve peace, which he said is a vital foundation for national reconstruction after war. During the meeting, Mr. Reva Serhii informed H.E. Heng Ratana that approximately 170,000 square kilometers of land in Ukraine are currently contaminated by explosive remnants of war. He expressed his appreciation to the Government of Japan and JICA for supporting Ukraine’s cooperation with CMAC — a recognized leader in mine clearance both nationally and internationally. He noted that Ukrainian trainees will bring the knowledge gained from CMAC back home to support humanitarian demining efforts in war-affected areas. Since 2023, CMAC has trained a total of 32 SESU personnel, with the program continuing through October 2025. In addition to in-country training, CMAC has deployed technical experts to Poland to deliver in-person training to additional SESU trainees, in collaboration with the Polish Solidarity Fund.

Ahead of the meeting, the Ukrainian delegation visited several CMAC facilities to gain deeper insights into its operations. These included the training ground in Popel Commune, the Techo Peace Museum in Siem Reap province, the CMAC Central Workshop and minefield in Battambang province, the Technical Institute of Mine Action, and the CMAC Dog Center in Kampong Chhnang province. This humanitarian mine action training for Ukrainian specialists has been made possible through the close cooperation between the governments of Japan and Cambodia. Their joint support has enabled CMAC to implement the project in response to the urgent need for humanitarian mine clearance in Ukraine.

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