Vi har et etableret netværk i Ukraine og nærområdet – så vi kan sørge for, at støtteinitiativer ender, hvor der brug for dem, og hvor de gør mest mulig nytte.

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Vi er en nystartet humanitær organisation bestående af frivillige kræfter, der løser en bred vifte af opgaver.

Vi er både et koordinerende og et udførende led i indsatserne, og vi sørger for, at hjælpen ikke strander ved grænsen, men lander de rigtige steder hos de rette mennesker i Ukraine.

Om DSGU

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We have an established network in Ukraine and the surrounding area - so we can ensure that support initiatives end up where they are needed and where they do the most good.

Danish support to the people of Ukraine

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We are a newly started humanitarian organization consisting of volunteers who solve a wide range of tasks. 

We are both a coordinating and executing link in the efforts, and we make sure that the aid does not end up at the border, but lands in the right places with the right people in Ukraine.

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Noe som arbejder for DSGU er noget så eksotisk som en Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) og Non-Technical Survey (NTS) konsulent. Dette siger selvfølgelig ikke de fleste noget, men det er de to første skridt i mine- og ueksploderet ammunitionsrydningsprocessen. Igennem spredningen af information om faren ved ueksploderet ammunition er det muligt at nå ud til den udsatte befolkning, der kan give oplysninger om hvor disse genstande befinder sig.

Dette muliggør at NTS kan deployere til stedet, foretage identifikation, fotografere og rapportere på genstanden eller selve området. Hvis genstandene ikke bliver rapporteret, bliver de ikke fjernet og vil forblive en trussel imod almindelige mennesker i området i år fremover. Der dukker f.eks. stadig granater og andet eksplosivt frem af Frankrigs og Belgiens muld efter første verdenskrig.

Jeg (Noe) blev i november i år bedt af Danish Support Group Ukraine (DSGU), om at tage en tur til Ukraine for at tjekke op og kontroller de tre EORE teams, samt et NTS hold, som er finansieret af DGSU og implementeret af DGSUs nationale partner i Ukraine - Ukrainian Demnining Association (UDA).

Hensigten var at kvalitetssikre UDAs aktivitete, samt indhente materiale der skulle assistere DGSU og UDA i at søge og flere midler til at fortsætte og om muligt øge aktiviteterne i Ukraine.

Min vej til Ukraine gik den nemme vej fra Oslo igennem Warszawa, hvor jeg i sagens natur var ved at miste forbindelsen til Rzeszov (By i det sydlige Polen), da min bagage af administrative årsager var blevet nægtet den luksus at flyve helt til Rzeszov. Et ikke fuldstændigt yndefuldt sprint igennem Warszawa, resulterede i at jeg nåede mit fly, og befandt mig herefter velplaceret, men lettere svedig i flyet, der uden større overraskelser bragte mig til Rzeszov.

Ved ankomsten dalede sneen allerede i mængder ned over det østpolske landskab, hvilket kun blev værre som tiden gik. Jeg fik transporteret mig ind til Rzeszov Glowny (hovedbanegården), købt billet til Przemysl hvor grænseovergangen til Ukraine ligger. Toget var i turens ånd 45 minutter forsinket. Da det endelig ankom nåede det kun 15 minutter i normal hastighed før stilstand sænkede sig.

To toge havde opgivet ånden i sporet foran, så mit tog afventede på sporet i ca. tre timer, hvorefter de tilstedeværende autoriteter bestemte sig for at stille busser til rådighed. 120 mennesker, hovedsageligt kvinder og børn, tumlede ud af toget, ud i sneen, trækkende efter sig tunge kufferter og hylende børn. Først gik vi forbi den første tilkommende bus, som allerede sad fast i sneen, et par hundrede meter videre nede ad vejen forsøgte alle så at komme op i samme bus, men efter godt en halv times absolut kaos var de togløse passagerer kommet op i fire busser, hvoraf de tre kørte imod Przemysl.

To timer i relativ komfort blev det til, om end de mere vidende ukrainske medpassagerer havde travlt med at booke nye togbilletter da de, qua deres erfaring, forventede af det først bookede tog med afgang 20:28 var stukket af for flere timer siden. De havde klart en forventning om at ankomsten til Przemysl ville medføre flere trængsler.

De polske myndigheder havde arrangeret at køen til paskontrollen skulle foregå udenfor, udsat for vind og sne, og da togpersonellet stadig kl. 2200 ikke havde tømt 20:28 toget for passagerer, kunne vintervejret nydes i to stive timer før ombordstigning.

Togturen gik forbavsende let, taget de kaotiske omstændigheder vedrørende min ankomst til Przemysl i betragtning. Efter ombordstigning bestod min forplejning af en Twix, samten halv liter vand i de 12 timer rejsen varede. Jeg var en smule sulten, da jeg vaklede ud af toget på Kyivs hovedbanegård søndag morgen.

Kyiv en december formiddag er begrænset charmerende, da alt virkede gråt. Jeg så dog ikke meget til krigen på min gåtur til hotellet, udover de mange uniformsklædte mænd i bybilledet.

En hverveplakat hvor soldater står ansigt til ansigt med zombier, fangede dog min opmærksomhed. En luftalarm gik i gang mens jeg var ude at gå, men det synes ikke at have den store effekt på folk omkring mig - Folk er vel blevet vant til det.

Hverveplakat hvor soldater står ansigt til ansigt med zombier.

Mandag morgen havde min kollega og jeg et møde i Kyiv med UDA-leder (Tymur) og projektlederen (Iryna). Her var der mulighed for at drøfte både aktiviterer, samt muligheden for fremtidigt samarbejde. Det var ligeledes muligt at få et indblik i den store indsats DSGU & UDA yder sammen.

Efter mødet gik turen syd på. Min kollega og jeg kørte i hans varevogn, i en form for kolonne efter Iryna. Der er udgangsforbud om natten, derfor gjorde vi et tiltrængt ophold på et hotel i Pervomaisk. Krigen havde som sådan ikke sat sig spor i bybilledet, og det var hovedsageligt endeløse marker vi kørte forbi. Ukraine hedder ikke Europas Brødkurv for ingenting. Pervomaisk er en lille undseelig by på hovedvejen fra Kyiv til Mykolaiv. En bedaget park, de unaturligt mange apoteker, samt et par supermarkeder dominerede bymidten. En luftalarm gik i gang, men blev generelt som i Kyiv ignoreret. Natten igennem kunne jeg høre rumlen fra lange godstog, som virkede som en form for meditation på de sene nattetimer.

Næste morgen kørte vi hen til en skole, hvor DSGU-finansierede EORE hold 1 skulle foretage en session. Skolen virkede gammel og ikke synderligt charmerende, men sessionen blev gennemført og de 13-14 årige kunne forlade lokalet med en øget opmærksomhed på deres omgivelser.

Efter session fortsatte vi imod Voznesensk, hvor hold 2 foretog sessioner.

Ved ankomsten omkring 13-tiden gik luftalarmen i gang, session blev således foretaget i beskyttelsesrummet under skolens tilstødende bygninger.

EORE Session i beskyttelsesrum i Voznesensk

Sessionen var interaktiv og praktisk anlagt, da Voznesensk var højvandemærket for den russisiske fremrykning i form af spejderenheder. Derfor havde eleverne en ganske levende ihukommelse af fjenden og var derfor langt mere involverede i selve sessionen.

Sessionen var en succes og da den var overstået, satte vi os ind i bilerne og kørte videre sydpå imod Mykolaiv.

Landskabet bestod stadig af enorme marker med få støvede landsbyer ind imellem. I nærmest alle landsbyer havde de lokale beboere opsat mindeplader/skilte af unge mænd fra landsbyen der var døde i kampen imod russerne.

Disse mindevægge lå i mange tilfælde side om side med mindesmærker fra anden verdenskrig, rangerende fra T-34 på piedestaler til den meget russiske håndgranatskastende, fremadstormende, kappebærende infanterisoldat, som er et minde om en anden blodig tid i Ukraines turbulente historie.

Mykolaiv selv ligger langs Bug-floden ikke langt fra mundingen, hvor den løber ud i Sortehavet. Et par enkelte huse var blevet ramt, men gamle sandsækkepositioner ved byens nordlige bro var det eneste vi så til krigen. Hotellet var ikke voldsomt komfortabelt, men restauranten vi valgte havde en fantastisk solyanka suppe.

Næste morgen (onsdag), kom vi tidligt afsted for at nå en session af det tredje DGSU finansierede EORE team i byen Velikolexandrivka, små tre timers kørsel nordøst for Mykolaiv.

De sidste 50 km var vejen voldsomt hullet, derfor faldt hastigheden betragteligt. Vi kom stadig forbi utallige monumenter for de faldne soldater i anden verdenkrig, før vi drejede af til Velikolexandrivka.

Sessionen fandt sted på en velholdt, samt veladministreret skole, dog i beskyttelsesrummet, da luftalarmen rutinemæssigt gik hver dag, og her tog man luftalarmen alvorligt. Børn mellem 6 og 7 sad lydigt og lyttede til sessionen, indgik med entusiasme i spørgsmål og svar, samt bidrog med praktiske eksempler på sikker adfærd. Ukraines voldsomt populære explosive detection dog (Patron), fik igennem en power point præsentation fortalt børnene hvad de skal gøre, hvis de kommer i kontakt med forsagere, landminer og anden ammunition. Sessionen var populær og børnene virkede meget interesserede.

Efter sessionen fik vi en hurtig rundvisning på skolen, før vi drog videre nordpå til Kryivyi, som strækker sig 20 km langs Saksahan-floden’s bredder.

Her i skyggen af endnu et anden verdenskrigsmonument spiste vi frokost på den lokale georgiske restaurant, hvor bordmåtterne havde aftegninger af ukrainsk modstand imod russiske fly, tanks og skibe.

Som jeg nu sidder på hotellet og skriver dette, er luftalarmen lige gået i gang, men den stopper nok snart igen.

Noe's dagbog fra Mykolaiv!

Noe who is working for DSGU is something as exotic as an Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) and Non-Technical Survey (NTS) consultant. This, of course, doesn't mean much to most people, but these are the first two steps in the process of mine and unexploded ordnance clearance. By spreading information about the danger of unexploded ordnance, it is possible to reach out to the affected population who can provide information about the locations of these objects.

This enables NTS to deploy to the site, perform identification, photograph, and report on the object or the area itself. If the objects are not reported, they will not be removed and will remain a threat to the local population for years to come. For example, grenades and other explosives still emerge from the soil of France and Belgium after World War I.

I (Noe) was asked by the Danish Support Group Ukraine (DSGU) in November of this year to take a trip to Ukraine to check and control the three EORE teams, as well as an NTS team, funded by DGSU and implemented by DGSU's national partner in Ukraine - the Ukrainian Demining Association (UDA).

The intention was to quality-assure UDA's activities and gather material to assist DGSU and UDA in seeking more funds to continue and, if possible, increase activities in Ukraine.

My journey to Ukraine took the easy route from Oslo through Warsaw, where, due to administrative reasons, I was on the verge of losing the connection to Rzeszow (a city in southern Poland) as my luggage had been denied the luxury of flying all the way to Rzeszow. A not entirely graceful sprint through Warsaw resulted in me catching my flight and subsequently finding myself well-placed but slightly sweaty on the plane, which without major surprises brought me to Rzeszow.

Upon arrival, snow was already falling heavily over the eastern Polish landscape, which only worsened over time. I transported myself to Rzeszow Glowny (main station), bought a ticket to Przemysl where the border crossing to Ukraine is located. The train was, in the spirit of the journey, 45 minutes late. When it finally arrived, it only traveled at normal speed for 15 minutes before coming to a halt.

Two trains had given up the ghost on the track ahead, so my train waited on the track for about three hours, after which the authorities decided to provide buses. 120 people, mainly women and children, tumbled out of the train into the snow, dragging heavy suitcases and crying children behind them. First, we passed the first incoming bus, which was already stuck in the snow. A few hundred meters down the road, everyone tried to get into the same bus, but after about half an hour of absolute chaos, the trainless passengers had boarded four buses, three of which were heading towards Przemysl.

It turned into two hours of relative comfort, although the more knowledgeable Ukrainian fellow passengers were busy booking new train tickets since, based on their experience, they expected the initially booked train departing at 20:28 to have left several hours ago. They clearly expected that the arrival in Przemysl would entail more troubles.

The Polish authorities had arranged for the queue for passport control to take place outside, exposed to wind and snow, and since the train staff still hadn't emptied the 20:28 train of passengers at 22:00, winter weather could be enjoyed for two stiff hours before boarding.

The train journey went surprisingly smoothly, considering the chaotic circumstances regarding my arrival in Przemysl. After boarding, my sustenance consisted of a Twix and half a liter of water during the 12-hour journey. I was a bit hungry when I staggered out of the train at Kyiv's main station on Sunday morning.

Kyiv on a December morning is not particularly charming, as everything seemed gray. However, I didn't see much of the war on my walk to the hotel, apart from the many uniformed men in the cityscape.

A recruitment poster where soldiers face zombies caught my attention, though. An air raid siren went off while I was walking, but it didn't seem to have a significant effect on the people around me - people must have gotten used to it.

Recruitment poster where soldiers face zombies.

Monday morning, my colleague and I had a meeting in Kyiv with UDA leader (Tymur) and project manager (Iryna). Here, there was an opportunity to discuss both activities and the possibility of future collaboration. It was also possible to get an insight into the significant efforts DSGU & UDA jointly provide.

After the meeting, the journey went south. My colleague and I drove in his van, in a sort of convoy behind Iryna. There is a curfew at night, so we made a much-needed stop at a hotel in Pervomaisk. The war had not visibly affected the cityscape, and it was mainly endless fields we drove past. Ukraine is not called Europe's Breadbasket for nothing. Pervomaisk is a small unassuming town on the main road from Kyiv to Mykolaiv. An aged park, the unnaturally numerous pharmacies, and a couple of supermarkets dominated the city center. An air raid siren went off, but, generally, like in Kyiv, it was ignored. Throughout the night, I could hear the rumbling of long freight trains, which acted as a form of meditation in the late-night hours.

The next morning, we went to a school where the DSGU-funded EORE team 1 was to conduct a session. The school seemed old and not particularly charming, but the session was carried out, and the 13-14 year olds could leave the room with increased awareness of their surroundings.

After the session, we continued towards Voznesensk, where team 2 conducted sessions. Upon arrival around 1:00 pm, the air raid siren went off, so the session was conducted in the shelter under the school's adjacent buildings.

The session was interactive and practical, as Voznesensk was a high-water mark for the Russian advance in the form of scout units. Therefore, the students had a vivid memory of the enemy and were much more involved in the session.

The session was a success, and when it was over, we got into the cars and drove further south towards Mykolaiv.

The landscape still consisted of vast fields with few dusty villages in between. In almost every village, the local residents had erected plaques/signs for young men from the village who had died in the fight against the Russians. In many cases, these memorial walls were side by side with memorials from World War II, ranging from T-34 on pedestals to the very Russian hand grenade-throwing, advancing, cape-wearing infantryman, a reminder of another bloody time in Ukraine's turbulent history.

Mykolaiv itself lies along the Bug River not far from its mouth, where it flows into the Black Sea. A few houses had been hit, but old sandbag positions at the city's northern bridge were the only signs we saw of the war. The hotel was not overly comfortable, but the restaurant we chose had a fantastic solyanka soup.

The next morning (Wednesday), we set off early to attend a session of the third DGSU-funded EORE team in the town of Velikolexandrivka, about a three-hour drive northeast of Mykolaiv. The last 50 km of the road were extremely potholed, so the speed dropped considerably. We still passed countless monuments to fallen soldiers in World War II before turning off to Velikolexandrivka.

The session took place in a well-kept and well-managed school, though in the shelter, as the air raid siren routinely went off every day, and here, they took the air raid seriously. Children aged 6 to 7 sat obediently, listened to the session, enthusiastically participated in questions and answers, and contributed with practical examples of safe behavior. Ukraine's wildly popular explosive detection dog (Patron) conveyed through a PowerPoint presentation what the children should do if they come into contact with detonators, landmines, and other ammunition. The session was popular, and the children seemed very interested.

After the session, we had a quick tour of the school before heading further north to Kryivyi, which stretches 20 km along the banks of the Saksahan River.

Here, in the shadow of yet another World War II monument, we had lunch at the local Georgian restaurant, where the table mats depicted Ukrainian resistance against Russian planes, tanks, and ships.

As I sit in the hotel writing this, the air raid siren has just gone off, but it will likely stop soon.

Noe's diary from Mykolaiv!

DSGU and UDA collaborate to deliver Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) in the Mykolaiv region. This program aims to raise awareness of the dangers of explosive material (EO) in affected communities and promote safety, with a focus on vulnerable groups, including women, children, the elderly, and disabled individuals.

EORE involves public awareness campaigns in areas such as schools, utilizing information brochures and education. The goal is to create a safe environment and reduce the risk of accidents.

DSGU and UDA operate three mobile EORE teams, each with an operator and a driver/operator, supervised by an EORE manager. Activities adhere to local authorities and aim to directly reach vulnerable groups, guided by "Do No Harm Principles."

EORE needs assessments contribute to national mine reports, involving data collection, analysis, and community engagement. Key data includes target demographics, local knowledge of explosive material, threat levels, risk areas, and behavior change strategies.

To support the need for agricultural land clearance, DSGU and UDA have established a Rapid Reaction non-technical survey team. This team assists farmers in identifying and reporting the location of mines and unexploded ordnance to the appropriate authorities.

NTS is crucial for landmine and war remnants clearance efforts, involving a systematic assessment of an area to identify potential hazards and risks associated with explosive remnants. This includes social, economic, and cultural factors impacting the clearance process.

Key aspects of NTS include community collaboration, field evaluation, data collection and analysis, and educating the community about the dangers of explosive remnants and how to remain safe in contaminated areas.

The NTS team consists of three specialists who prioritize areas based on assessments and dialogue with farmers and their families. The goal is to protect vulnerable individuals by locating hazardous items and promoting a "do not touch" approach to prevent accidents.

💛💙The main goal of conducting educational sessions on the prevention of risks from explosive ordnance (EORE), is to instill a sense of responsibility in the participants, both for their own lives and the lives of others. The focus is on cultivating vigilance and awareness among the population regarding any objects in their surroundings, whether on the streets, in public transportation, or in recreational areas, which may pose explosive hazards.

🔥Within the framework of the project "Training on the prevention of risks from explosive ordnance and identifying the most crucial needs for mine action in the Mykolaiv region," implemented by UDA, with the support of the Danish Support Group Ukraine, three mobile groups of certified EORE instructors are involved.

💥We are diligently working to raise awareness among the population about the risks of mines and explosive ordnance, and to change the behavior of both children and adults towards safety, aiming to reduce the risks of injuries and fatalities.

Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) in the Mykolaiv

Kære alle, der har doneret, fulgt med og generelt støttet op omkring projektet DSGU. Vi skylder jer en opdatering, og her kommer den. Da vi er en meget lille NGO, primært drevet af frivillige kræfter, er det ofte markedsføring, artikelskrivning og generel online tilstedeværelse, der bliver prioriteret ned. Men det betyder ikke, at vi ikke arbejder hårdt. Der er skam sket en hel del siden sidst.

Vi har modtaget en donation fra en større dansk fond og en bevilling fra Civilsamfund i Udvikling (CISU). CISU samarbejder med Udenrigsministeriet, og det er gennem dem, vi er blevet introduceret til Danish Emergency Relief Fund (DERF) puljen. CISU og CISU's puljer finansieres primært af dansk udviklingsbistand, og de er derfor underlagt Civilsamfundspolitikken og andre strategier og politikker, som regeringen og Folketinget har vedtaget. DERF-puljen gives til organisationer, som hurtigt og effektivt kan reagere med integritet og fleksibilitet i akutte humanitære kriser. Vi er derfor meget stolte af, at DERF har valgt at samarbejde med DSGU.

"DERF supports life-saving interventions through localized humanitarian response and assists particularly vulnerable groups of people, including refugees, IDPs, and host communities."

Dæmningen i Kharkovka brød sammen den 6. juni 2023. Da vandet trak sig tilbage, blev skaderne på infrastrukturen og områder, tidligere kendt for UXO'er og miner, tydelige. Nu, hvor de fleste områder er tilgængelige, er øjeblikkelige indgreb nødvendige for at forhindre ulykker med UXO'er og miner - især i baghaver, på legepladser og i marker. Disse efterladenskaber udgør en stor risiko for de tilbagevendende beboere, særligt børn, kvinder og ældre. Derfor har vi dannet to teams, der arbejder med "EORE" (Explosive Ordnance Risk Education), hvilket på dansk betyder "Risikoundervisning om eksplosive efterladenskaber". I overensstemmelse med FN's IMAS 12.10-standarder underviser vi lokalbefolkningen i at identificere og omgås UXO'er sikkert.

DSGU og vores lokale samarbejdspartner har også dannet et Rapid Reaction non-technical survey team (NTS). Dette teams formål er at bruge passende ikke-tekniske metoder til at indsamle og analysere information med henblik på at:

identificere Sikkerhedsområder og Højrisko-områder (SHAs/CHAs)

annullere eller reducere farlige områder

bidrage til effektiv planlægning af tekniske indgreb.

I Mykolaivska og Khersonska oblast dyrker 93% af landbrugsproducenterne kun afgrøder. UXO'er forurener deres jord, hvilket dagligt udsætter landmændene for fare. Det er essentielt at fjerne UXO fra landbrugsjorden, for at forhindre ulykker. Landmændene i Mykolaiv Oblast har brug for NTS, som arbejder sammen med lokale samfund for at identificere UXO-ramte områder og informere myndighederne om dem.

Størstedelen af lokalbefolkningen består af kvinder, børn og ældre - da mange mænd er blevet indkaldt til militærtjeneste. De har akut behov for undervisning om risikoen ved eksplosive efterladenskaber (EORE).

Regionens behov for international støtte er fortsat stort, især med den reducerede finansiering i 2023 sammenlignet med 2022, som rapporteret af UNOCHA. Derfor håber vi på jeres vedvarende støtte til DSGU, hvor I får fuldt indblik i, hvad jeres donationer anvendes til.

Intet nyt er godt nyt!

Dear all who have donated, followed, and generally supported the DSGU project, we owe you an update, and here it is. Being a small NGO, primarily driven by volunteers, our immediate sacrifices tend to be in marketing, article writing, and overall online presence. However, this doesn't mean we aren't working diligently. Indeed, much has transpired since our last communication.

We have received a donation from a significant Danish foundation and also received funding from the Civil Society in Development (CISU). CISU collaborates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, introducing us to the Danish Emergency Relief Fund (DERF). The resources of CISU and its pools primarily come from Danish developmental aid and thus align with the Civil Society Policy and other strategies and policies approved by the government and parliament. DERF funds organizations that can act swiftly, efficiently, and with integrity and flexibility during acute humanitarian crises. Hence, we're immensely proud to have DERF collaborate with DSGU.

The dam in Kharkovka collapsed on June 6th, 2023. As the water receded, damage to infrastructure and areas previously known for UXOs and mines became evident. With most regions now accessible, immediate intervention is crucial to prevent UXO and mine accidents, especially in places like backyards, playgrounds, and fields. These remnants pose a significant threat to returning residents, especially children, women, and the elderly. Thus, we've set up two teams focusing on "EORE" (Explosive Ordnance Risk Education). In line with the UN's IMAS 12.10 standards, we're educating the local population on identifying and safely dealing with UXOs.

DSGU and our local partners have also set up a Rapid Reaction non-technical survey team (NTS). The primary aim of our NTS team is to utilize all appropriate non-technical means to identify, collect, analyze, and report information with the intent to:

determine Safety and High-risk areas (SHAs/CHAs)

advise on the nullification or reduction of hazardous zones

contribute to the effective planning of subsequent technical interventions.

In the Mykolaivska and Khersonska provinces, 93% of the agricultural producers cultivate crops exclusively. UXOs contaminate their soil, putting farmers at daily risk. Clearing agricultural land of UXOs is vital as uninformed farmers are prone to accidents. For the farmers in Mykolaiv Oblast, NTS is crucial. They collaborate with local communities to identify areas with UXOs and report to national and local authorities, aiming to inform local agencies for effective clearance.

The majority of the local population, primarily consisting of women, children, and the elderly (as many men have been drafted into military service), urgently need education about the risks associated with explosive remnants (EORE).

The region continues to require international support, especially given the reduced funding in 2023 compared to 2022, as reported by UNOCHA. We would greatly appreciate your continued support for DSGU, ensuring full transparency in how your donations are utilized.

No news is good news!

Livsfarlige landminer og andre ammunitionsgenstande driver fra fronten med Dnepr-floden efter sprængning af Kakhovka-dæmningen.

600 kvadratkilometer står under vand i kherson regionen, og livsfarlige miner driver ned langs floden. Mange har en formodning om at miner der står under vand er mindre farlige, men det er bestemt ikke tilfældet. Selv miner fra 2 verdenskrig, der har været under vand i over 70 år, er stadig funktionsdygtige.

Problemet vi ser her er katastrofalt, minerne udgør en stor fare og en enorm sikkerhedsrisiko for Civile Ukrainere. Der er stor sandsynlighed for at de springer hvis de kolliderer, eller bliver samlet op af folk uden den fornødne uddannelse.

Minerne kan flyde flere kilometer, og når vandet engang trækker sig tilbage, er der en stor sandsynlighed for at minerne er dækket af affald, jord eller andet, så de er ekstremt svære at finde.

Vi i DSGU, vil meget gerne støtte og lede en operation mhp. at få kortlagt og fjernet minerne i de kontaminerede områder. Det kræver dog en økonomisk indsprøjtning som er større end det vi råder over pt. Vi har derfor rakt ud til regeringens Ukraine Fond, som er ledet af erhvervsministeriet, dog indtil videre uden held. Såfremt der sidder nogle derude, med viden om hvordan man søger og bliver taget i betragtning til fonden, vil vi meget gerne høre fra jer.

Ødelagt dæmning gør en slem situation endnu værre

Deadly landmines and other munitions are drifting from the Dnieper River front following the blasting of the Kakhovka Dam.

600 square kilometers are under water in the Kherson region, and deadly mines drift down the river. Many have a presumption that mines that are under water are less dangerous, but this is definitely not the case. Even mines from World War 2 that have been under water for over 70 years are still operational.

The problem we see here is catastrophic, the mines pose a great danger and a huge security risk to Civilian Ukrainians. There is a high probability that they will jump if they collide, or are picked up by people without the necessary training.

The mines can float for several kilometers, and once the water recedes, there is a high probability that the mines will be covered by debris, soil or something else, so they are extremely difficult to find.


We at DSGU would very much like to support and lead an operation, etc. to map and remove the mines in the contaminated areas. However, this requires a financial injection that is greater than what we currently have at our disposal. We have therefore reached out to the government's Ukraine Fund, which is managed by the Ministry of Commerce, but so far without success. If there is anyone out there with knowledge of how to apply and be considered for the fund, we would very much like to hear from you.

Destroyed dam makes a terrible situation even worse

Vi vil gerne sige tusind tak for jeres generøse donationer og jeres tillid til vores evne til at levere. Vi værdsætter jeres støtte dybt, og det gør en forskel for os og for dem, vi hjælper.

Vi har ikke sendt mange nyhedsbreve hidtil, og for dette vil vi gerne undskylde. Vi arbejder hårdt på at finde en balance mellem vores jobs og vores humanitære arbejde. Vores prioritet er at bruge vores tid og ressourcer på at skabe værdi for de ukrainske borgere. Vi opfordrer jer til at tjekke vores hjemmeside for nyheder og opdateringer, og i denne mail har vi vedhæftet nogle af vores seneste historier.

Takket være din donation har vi været i stand til at fortsætte vores arbejde og skabe en positiv indvirkning på samfundet. Vi ønsker at dele nogle af disse fremskridt med dig og lade dig vide, hvor vigtig din støtte er for at opnå disse resultater.

En besked til vores donorer - tusind tak for din støtte

On behalf of the entire team at DSGU, I want to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks for your generous donations and continued support. Your contributions have helped us make significant progress in our mission to rid Ukraine of the dangerous landmines and ammunition that pose a constant threat to the civilian population.

We apologize for not reaching out to you sooner with a newsletter. As a small team, we have been working tirelessly to balance our actual jobs with this humanitarian effort. Our priority has been to use our resources to create value for the citizens of Ukraine. 

Please take the opportunity to view our news articles that that highlight the progress we have made, thanks to the support of donors like you. Your trust in our abilities to deliver is invaluable to us, and we are committed to continuing our work to help the people of Ukraine.


Once again, thank you for your support. It means the world to us and to the people we serve.

A message for our donors - thank you for your support

En nylig rapport fra Mine Action Sub-Cluster viser, at DSGU og deres partner Demining Solutions (DS) har spillet en betydelig rolle i rydningen af miner i Ukraine i 2022. Ifølge rapporten blev ca. 20% af de miner, der blev ryddet i landet i 2022, ryddet af DSGU og DS.

I alt ryddede og frigav vi 84.500 kvadratmeter, og det samlede område, der blev ryddet og frigivet, var 463.898 kvadratmeter indtil november 2022. Dette resultat var kun muligt takket være vores generøse donorer og gode samarbejdspartnere.

Vi er meget stolte af vores arbejde og resultater og forbereder os på at fortsætte vores indsats for at hjælpe den ukrainske befolkning. Vi vil gerne takke alle, der har støttet os, og vi håber på fortsat støtte i fremtiden, så vi kan fortsætte med at gøre en forskel.

DSGU og partner rydder 20% af miner i Ukraine

DSGU, in conjunction with our partner Demining Solutions (DS), have made significant progress in clearing Ukraine of hazardous landmines and unexploded ordnance. According to a recent report from the Mine Action Sub-Cluster of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), DSGU and DS have cleared approximately 20% of the land cleared in Ukraine in 2022.

In total, we cleared and released 84,500 square meters, contributing to the total area cleared and released of 463,898 square meters as of November 2022. This achievement would not have been possible without the support of our generous donors and strong partners.

We are proud of the impact we have made in improving the safety and well-being of the Ukrainian people and will continue our efforts to clear the remaining hazardous areas. Our work is far from over, and we remain committed to helping Ukrainian citizens return to their homes safely.

DSGU and Demining Solutions Clear 20% of total area cleared in Ukraine in 2022

DSGU har længe samarbejdet tæt med Bevar Ukraine i kampen mod de farlige efterladte miner og ammunition, der fortsat udgør en stor trussel mod den ukrainske civilbefolkning. Under et besøg hos Bevar Ukraine blev behovet for minerydning drøftet, da dette er afgørende for at kunne igangsætte genopbygning af områderne. Minerydning skaber en forudsætning for, at civilbefolkningen kan vende tilbage til deres hjem og sikrer en mere stabil og sikker hverdag. 

Et tæt samarbejde med Bevar Ukraine er vigtigt for at kunne adressere problemet med de farlige miner og ammunition, samt hvilken betydning det har for lokalbefolkningen. Derudover drøftede man mulighederne for at få del i midlerne fra den nye Ukraine fond, som netop er aftalt igennem den nye finanslov. Her er det vigtigt at sikre, at midlerne lander det rigtige sted, og at de når ud til de mennesker, som har mest behov for dem.

DSGU har allerede vist sit værd i kampen mod de farlige efterladte miner og ammunition. Sidste år var DSGU ansvarlige for at rydde 20% af den samlede mine- og ammunitionsrydning i Ukraine ifølge en UNDP-rapport. Bevar Ukraine er også en vigtig aktør i Ukraine, da de forsyner civilbefolkningen med mad, humanitær nødhjælp, medicin og psykologisk hjælp til flygtninge.

Vi opfordrer politikerne til at overveje NGO'er som DSGU og Bevar Ukraine, når der skal uddeles midler, da de mindre NGO'er har vist, at de kan komme langt med små midler. Det er vigtigt at støtte de organisationer, der arbejder tæt på problemet og som har en høj grad af effektivitet og gennemsigtighed i deres arbejde.

DSGU og Bevar Ukraine samarbejder om minerydning og genopbygning i Ukraine

DSGU has been working closely with Bevar Ukraine in the fight against the dangerous leftover mines and ammunition, which continue to pose a major threat to the Ukrainian civilian population. During a visit to Bevar Ukraine, the need for mine clearance was discussed as it is crucial for initiating the reconstruction of the affected areas. Mine clearance is a prerequisite for the civilian population to return to their homes and ensure a more stable and secure everyday life.

A close collaboration with Bevar Ukraine is important for addressing the issue of dangerous mines and ammunition and the impact it has on the local population. Furthermore, possibilities for accessing funds from the new Ukraine fund, which has just been agreed through the new finance bill, were discussed. It is crucial to ensure that the funds are allocated in the right place and reach the people who need them the most.

DSGU has already demonstrated its value in the fight against dangerous leftover mines and ammunition. According to a UNDP report, last year, DSGU was responsible for clearing 20% of the total mine and ammunition clearance in Ukraine. Bevar Ukraine is also an important actor in Ukraine as they provide the civilian population with food, humanitarian aid, medicine, and psychological assistance to refugees.

We urge politicians to consider NGOs such as DSGU and Bevar Ukraine when distributing funds as smaller NGOs have shown that they can go a long way with limited resources. It is essential to support organizations that work closely with the problem and have a high degree of effectiveness and transparency in their work.

Clearing the Path: DSGU and Bevar Ukraine Working Together to Address the Looming Threat of Landmines in Ukraine

Sidste efterår hjalp vi med at renovere nogle huse i Chernihiv området. Det er på tide vi lige deler en kort opdatering omkring hvordan det er gået.

Vores samarbejde udsprang fra vores udsendte i Chernihiv som kom i dialog med en lokal sammenslutning af frivillige som renoverede huse, der var blevet beskadiget af bombardementer. Vinteren stod for døren, og husene var ubeboelige i den tilstand de stod. Dette betød mange familier der praktisk talt var hjemløse.

Den lokale forening (Іскра Добра - Iskra Dobra) samlede midler ind og brugte den lokale frivillige arbejdskraft til at reparere husene så de igen var beboelige. Dette kunne de gøre for ret beskedne midler, da det var lokalsamfundet der var rykket sammen og byggede sig selv op igen. Samlet set kunne de reparere et hus, så det var beboeligt, for omkring $1000. Vi bidrog med midler til dem så de kunne renovere 10 huse hvor hovedsageligt taget var så beskadiget at man ikke kunne benytte huset.

Dette betød at 10 huse igen var beboelige, hvilket gav op imod 100 mennesker tag over hovedet da vinteren ramte.

Billederne viser husene før og efter og bærer Udenrigsministeriets logo, da disse også var med ind over projektet.

Vi er blevet bedt om at sende en stor tak videre til vores donorer. Så hermed stort tak!

Renovation af huse I Chernihiv (Update)

Last autumn we helped to renovate some houses in the Chernihiv area. It's time we share a short update about how it went.


Our cooperation arose from our people in Chernihiv who entered into dialogue with a local association of volunteers who renovated houses that had been damaged by bombing. Winter was at the door, and the houses were uninhabitable in their condition. This meant many families were practically homeless.
The local association (Іскра Добра - Iskra Dobra) collected funds and used local volunteer labor to repair the houses so they were habitable again. They could do this for fairly modest means, as it was the local community that had pulled together and rebuilt itself. Overall, they could repair a house so it was livable for about $1000. We contributed funds to them so that they could renovate 10 houses where mainly the roof was so damaged that the house could not be used.


This meant that 10 houses were habitable again, which gave up to 100 people a roof over their heads when winter hit.


The pictures show the houses before and after and bear the logo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as these were also involved in the project.


We have been asked to pass on a big thank you to our donors. So thank you very much!

Reparation of houses in Chernihiv (Update)

Som året går på hæld, og vi snart siger velkommen til 2023, vil vi fra Danish Support Group Ukraine gerne sige tak for de flotte bidrag vi har modtaget her i 2022 og den støtte vi har fået til at komme i gang med minerydningen samt udbrede vores budskab.

Bidragene har været uundværlige i vores arbejde i Ukraine, hvor vi i perioden juli til november fik frigivet i alt 84.500 kvm af det område vi indledningsvis fik tildelt.

Vi har i løbet af perioden indgået et stærkt samarbejde med UDA (Ukrainian Demining Association) og DS (Demining Solution) i Ukraine. Samarbejdet har gjort at vi har kunnet opnå den nødvendige akkreditering i Ukraine, og komme i gang med vores rydningsopgaver, og dermed få miner og farligt ammunition fjernet fra et større landbrugsområde. Via medbragt udstyr fra Danmark, og genopfrisknings-træning af ukrainsk rydningspersonale kunne vi i november frigive i alt 84.500 kvm landbrugsområde til de lokale landmænd området syd for Tjernihiv kaldet Ivanivka. At kunne dyrke markerne i Ukraine er en vital del af at kunne brødføde befolkningen, især medens der er krig men også for fremtidig brug. FN har nyligt udgivet rapporter på hvor mange kvm der er blevet frigivet i Ukraine siden krigen, brød ud, og det totale resultat er 463.898 kvm, og DSGU er dermed stolt af at vi har bidraget med knap 20 % af de ryddede områder for de donationer som vi har modtaget i 2022. Uden jer ville det ikke være muligt.

Med dette fine resultat er vi klar til at afslutte år 1 for DSGU. Vinteren er ankommet i Ukraine, og opgaverne i vinterperioden står på træning og kompetenceudvikling, og opsøgende aktiviteter i lokalområderne, hvor informationer om kontaminerede områder indhentes via interviews af befolkningen, samt kortlægning af områder, hvor der har været kampe. Dette kalder vi for non technical surveys (NTS). Her i år 1 har DSGU virkelig været afhængige af de donormidler, som I har været med til at give, da vi ikke har modtaget offentlige midler, på trods af at DSGU faktisk er i gang med at rydde miner og ammunition i Ukraine, og hvor kun 2 andre NGO’er end DSGU (gennem samarbejdet med DS og UDA) er operationelle.

Vi kigger ind i et 2023 hvor vi meget gerne vil fortsætte med at gøre en forskel for den ukrainske befolknings sikkerhed ved at fjerne miner og farlige u-eksploderede ammunitionsgenstande. Vi vil så gerne at børnene kan lege sikkert i parker og på legeområder, at beboere kan vende tilbage til deres lejligheder og huse, og starte genopbygning, og at landmændene kan dyrke deres marker sikkert uden at frygte at køre på efterladte eksplosiver. For at kunne gøre dette har vi behov for yderligere donationer. Vi arbejder fortsat på at få adgang til midler fra Udenrigsministeriet, vi søger fonde om beløb, vi kigger på tværorganisatorisk samarbejde med andre organisationer, vi er opsøgende mod erhvervslivet for donationer, og vi håber at flere private personer også vil støtte os. Vi har fået DSGU’s hjemmeside sat op på både dansk og engelsk, og vi har nu også et betalingsmodul opsat, så det er muligt at gå ind og støtte os med engangsbeløb, eller på en månedlig basis som medlem. Vi håber så mange vil støtte os som muligt, i denne vigtige opgave i Ukraine.

Derudover har vi modtaget denne fine donation fra et Canadisk selskab, med de to bomberobotter, som vi har navngivet ”Lykketoft og Ellemann”. De er ved at blive klargjort til at blive sendt til Ukraine, så de kan blive indsat i vigtige operationer i foråret, hvor de genstande vi skal fjerne, er af sådan en kaliber, at det ikke er forsvarligt at håndtere dem med menneskehænder.

Af hjertet siger vi tak for alt I har doneret i 2022. Uden jeres donationer ville ovennævnte resultater ikke have kunnet lade sig gøre, resultater som I har været med til at skabe i Ukraine.

Vi ser frem til et 2023 med gode resultater igen.

Et tilbageblik på året der gik

As the year draws to a close and we soon welcome 2023, we from Danish Support Group Ukraine would like to say thank you for the wonderful contributions we have received here in 2022 and the support we have received to get started with mine clearance and spread our message.

The contributions have been indispensable in our work in Ukraine, where in the period July to November we released a total of 84,500 m2 of the area we were initially allocated. During the period, we have entered into a strong collaboration with UDA (Ukrainian Demining Association) and DS (Demining Solution) in Ukraine. The cooperation has meant that we have been able to obtain the necessary accreditation in Ukraine, and get started with our clearance tasks, and thus have mines and dangerous ammunition removed from a large agricultural area. Via equipment brought from Denmark, and refresher training of Ukrainian clearing personnel, in November we were able to release a total of 84,500 square meters of agricultural area to the local farmers in the area south of Chernihiv called Ivanivka.

Being able to cultivate the fields in Ukraine is a vital part of being able to feed the population, especially while there is war but also for future use. The UN has recently published reports on how many square meters have been freed in Ukraine since the war broke out, and the total result is 463,898 square meters, and DSGU is thus proud that we have contributed almost 20% of the cleared areas for the donations which we have received in 2022. Without you it would not be possible.

With this fine result, we are ready to end year 1 for DSGU. Winter has arrived in Ukraine, and the tasks during the winter period are training and outreach activities in the local areas, where information about contaminated areas is obtained via interviews with the population, as well as mapping of areas where there have been fights. We call this non-technical surveys (NTS). Here in year 1, DSGU has been highly depended on the donor funds that you have contributed with, as we have not received public funds. This despite the fact that DSGU is actually clearing mines and ammunition in Ukraine, and where only 2 NGOs other than DSGU (through the collaboration with DS and UDA) are operational. 

We are looking into a 2023 where we would very much like to continue to make a difference to the security of the Ukrainian people by removing mines and dangerous unexploded ordnances. We really want children to be able to play safely in parks and playgrounds, residents to return to their apartments and houses and start rebuilding, and farmers to be able to farm their fields safely without fear of driving over explosives left behind. In order to do this we need additional donations. 

We continue to work on getting access to funds from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we are looking for funds for amounts, we are looking at cross-organisational cooperation with other organisations, we are reaching out to the business community for donations, and we hope that more private individuals will also support us. We have had DSGU's website set up in both Danish and English, and we now also have a payment module set up, so it is possible to go in and support us with a one-time donation, or on a monthly basis as a member. We hope as many people as possible will support us in this important task in Ukraine.

In addition, we have received this generous donation from a Canadian company (ICOR Technologies), consisting of two bomb robots, which we have named "Lykketoft and Ellemann". They are being prepared to be sent to Ukraine so that they can be used in important operations this spring, where the objects we need to remove are of such a caliber that it is not safe to handle them with human hands. 

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for everything you have donated in 2022. Without your donations, the above would not have been possible - results that you have helped to create in Ukraine.

We look forward to a 2023 with good results again.

A year in review and a huge expression of grattitude

At DSGU, our focus is on helping civilians in Ukraine return to their homes safely and preventing further casualties from leftover ammunition in the region. We first began hearing about the dangers facing civilians returning to their homes in and around Kiev, where large amounts of intentionally and unintentionally left behind ammunition pose a particular threat to curious children.

Currently, we are responsible for clearing an area of 2.3 million sq. km south of Chernihiv. So far, we have found several former Russian positions with the associated remnants and signs of cluster bombs, which slow down the clearing process due to increased risk. We have also found sniper positions and generally left behind ammunition. We were able to release just shy of 100,000sqm back to the local population just before the winter set in.

Leftover mines and ammunition have numerous implications for the local population. Firstly, it is a major security risk as mines and ammunition can be very dangerous if not handled correctly. Secondly, it is a significant obstacle to agriculture, as many mines and ammunition have been left in agricultural land and forest areas north of Chernihiv, making it impossible to cultivate the land and leading to loss of income and food shortages. Finally, the leftover mines and ammunition also have psychological effects on the local population, as many people experience fear and stress at the thought of coming into contact with these leftover items, which can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.

This is we keep pursuing funding to continue this important endeavour.

Helping Civilians Return Home Safely in Ukraine

I DSGU har vi fokus på at hjælpe den ukrainske civilbefolkning med at vende tilbage til deres hjem og undgå flere ofre på grund af den efterladte ammunition i landet. Vi har længe hørt om, hvordan folk kommer til skade, når de vender tilbage til deres hjem i og omkring Kiev, hvor store mængder ammunition er blevet efterladt. Dette rammer især børn, da de er nysgerrige og kan komme i kontakt med denne farlige ammunition.

Vi har påtaget os opgaven med at rydde et område på 2,3 millioner kvm syd for Chernihiv. Indtil videre har vi fundet flere tidligere russiske stillinger med de rester, det medfører, herunder tegn på Clusterbombs, som sænker hastigheden på rydningen på grund af den øgede risiko. Derudover har vi også fundet sniper positions og generelt efterladt ammunition. Vi har formået at frigive halvdelen af området tilbage til lokalbefolkningen lige inden vinteren satte ind.