In the words of Olha Lishyk: "For me, this is more than a job. It is an opportunity to help people return to a safe life"

Photo: UN Women / Andrii Bren 

As a result of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine remains one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world. As of February 2026, 132,000 km² of Ukraine's territory is estimated to be mined and affected by explosive ordnances. For millions of people, this means daily risks, limited access to land and infrastructure, and uncertainty about when it will be safe to return home. 

Humanitarian mine action (HMA) is an essential part of humanitarian response in Ukraine. It helps save lives, enable displaced persons’ safe return, restore agricultural land, and accelerate economic recovery. Women are actively contributing to humanitarian mine action and to the country’s safety and recovery, working in field and technical positions as well as in expert and management roles.

UN Women’s “She Demines” programme is expanding women’s participation in humanitarian mine action in Ukraine. Behind the programme and its day-to-day work with partners are people who are helping transform the sector and create new opportunities for women. Olha Lishyk, Programme Analyst on Gender in Humanitarian Mine Action and the implementation of “Women, Peace and Security” agenda in Ukraine, is involved in implementing the programme and, together with partners, works to create new opportunities for women in HMA. 

“I have been working with UN Women Ukraine for more than seven years. My work is about helping ensure that women have equal opportunities to fully participate in Ukraine’s recovery, peacebuilding and security policymaking, including by having a meaningful role in decision-making,” Olha says. 

Olha brings together national and local authorities, security and defence sector, civil society organizations, and international partners. 

“Behind every policy, training programme, or project are real people and their stories. My role is to help make sure that women’s voices are heard, their professional achievements are recognized, and their contribution to Ukraine’s recovery is supported,” she explains. 

When personal experience becomes a motivation to help others   

Photo: UN Women / Andrii Bren 

For many years, Olha’s professional journey was connected to public service and local government. From 2014 to 2019, following the start of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, she served as Deputy Head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration. She was responsible for humanitarian and social affairs and worked with government institutions, local communities and civil society organizations. A key part of her work was ensuring that the needs of different groups of people were considered when decisions were made. 

Her work in the Luhansk region gave her a deep understanding of the challenges faced by people and communities living through war, as well as the importance of reflecting their experiences in decisions aimed at supporting their safety, recovery and well-being. Later, Olha herself became one of the many people whose lives were forever changed by the war. 

“Having personally experienced life during the war and forced displacement, I understand how important it is to have people and institutions around you that provide support, create new opportunities and help you move forward,” Olha says. 

In 2022, she lost her home as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This personal experience has also shaped her approach to her work. For Olha, humanitarian mine action and recovery are not only about making it possible for people to return safely. They are also about creating opportunities for people to take an active role in rebuilding their communities and shaping their future. 

“For me, this is more than a job. It is an opportunity to help people return to a safe life,” she says. 

Her decision to work on the Women, Peace and Security agenda is also deeply personal: “I chose this work because I firmly believe that sustainable peace and recovery are impossible without the meaningful participation of women.” 

Behind every number is a human story 

Olha’s working days are rarely the same. Meetings, planning, coordination with partners, preparing documents and finding solutions often happen all at once. And sometimes, amid ongoing shelling, her workday is interrupted by air raid alerts and time spent in shelters. 

Yet all these daily tasks are united by one goal: helping build a more inclusive Ukraine where women have opportunities to participate in security, recovery and development.  

What inspires Olha most is seeing the results of this work — both at the level of public policy and reforms and directly in communities. She is particularly inspired by women who choose careers once considered “traditionally male-dominated,” take on responsibility, work in government institutions, civil society organizations and coalitions, and demonstrate their professionalism every day. 

In humanitarian mine action, Olha sees this change through women’s participation in UN Women’s "She Demines" programme: “What inspires me most is seeing how, through the programme, women gain new knowledge and skills, choose a new profession and contribute to the recovery of their country.”  

Today, women are not only entering new professions but are also directly contributing to making communities and territories safer. Iryna Kachurovska, Deputy Head of the Humanitarian Demining Team at the Ukrainian Deminers Association, describes her work simply: “Every day, we work in the field to help people return home safely,” she says. 

For Iryna, humanitarian mine action is work where she can see the results directly: “Every area that is cleared can then be safely used by local residents. And that is what inspires me,” Iryna explains. 

Photo: UN Women / Andrii Bren 

At the same time, behind professional reports, contaminated-land maps and statistics, Olha always sees the people: “The hardest part for me is understanding the true scale of the war’s impact on people. Behind every number, map of mine-contaminated areas or official report are real human stories: families who cannot return home, children who study in shelters and have no safe place to play, and communities that have lived alongside the threat of mines for years.” 

Moving forward to drive change 

Meaningful change takes time, especially when it involves challenging long-standing practices and stereotypes. Olha understands that expanding women’s participation in humanitarian mine action requires time, trust and collective effort. It is not only about ensuring equal professional opportunities, but also about enabling the sector to draw on the potential of everyone who can contribute to Ukraine’s safety and recovery.

Photo: UN Women / Andrii Bren 

For Olha, staying committed to this work matters, even when its impact is not immediately visible: “Even in the most difficult times, it is important to keep moving forward, do your work well and contribute where you are needed most.” 

Olha draws support and inspiration from the people around her — women and men who, despite the challenges of war, continue to work and help others. She says she would like people to see communities affected by the war not only through the lens of loss and humanitarian needs. These are communities of strong and resilient people who have the knowledge, experience and determination to rebuild their lives and shape their future. 

“Unfortunately, the war has brought days into all of our lives that we will never forget. Days of pain, loss and difficult decisions. At the same time, these experiences have shown us how important it is to support one another, stand in solidarity, and keep going — to continue working and helping others, even in the hardest times. That is why I continue working to ensure that women are seen not only as those affected by war, but as professionals, leaders and agents of change who are already shaping Ukraine — its present and its future.” 

This publication was produced for World Humanitarian Day (19 August) as part of the She Demines programme, implemented by UN Women Ukraine in partnership with Ukrainian Deminers Association, NGO Girls and BBC Media Action, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine, with financial support from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.