Ukraine to use artificial intelligence in demining efforts

Press service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy reported the information.

The document was signed in London during a working visit to the UK by a Ukrainian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko. 

Svyrydenko noted that currently, 156,000 square kilometers of territory are potentially contaminated, with over 6 million Ukrainians residing in at-risk areas.

"Hence, accelerating humanitarian demining, particularly through collaboration with technological companies like Palantir, presents an opportunity to save lives and expedite Ukraine's reconstruction," she emphasized.

The cooperation will focus on the following areas:

• Digitization of humanitarian demining operations and automation of processes outlined in the National Mine Action Strategy for the period up to 2033;
• Expanding digital capabilities for coordinating land release and assessment, prioritizing regions, and managing risks in mine action;
• Utilizing the Palantir Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) assistant for decision-making in mine action activities.

The platform will interface with extensive databases compiled by relevant mine action entities, ranging from local government bodies, regional authorities, ministries, and agencies, to mine action operators.

The databases will contain both static information, such as assessments of agricultural land, economic efficiency and proximity of contaminated areas to infrastructure, as well as real-time data, which will be regularly updated.

Thanks to Palantir AIP capabilities, the platform will analyze information and provide recommendations for process optimization. For instance, it can advise on the most efficient methods for clearing specific areas, considering all data, whether through innovative demining technologies like drones or traditional methods. Ultimately, the goal is to demine areas faster and at lower costs," the announcement stated.

• On February 29, during a briefing at the Ukraine-Ukrinform Media Center, Serhiy Reva, Chief of the Humanitarian Demining Organization Department of the State Emergency Service, stated that among the factors hindering demining operations are combat actions, density, and complexity of contamination in the liberated territories with explosive objects.