The Norwegian government will increase funding for the program to demining Ukrainian territories using mine dogs by NOK 164 million, the government press service reports.

"In Romny, Ukraine, Norwegian People's Aid and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine have established training centres for mine clearance dogs and dog handlers. Since 2022, the training ground has been professionalised and systematised to provide dogs and dog handlers with the best conditions to participate in mine clearance efforts. In December, the government announced that support for the activities of Norwegian People's Aid in Ukraine would be increased by NOK 164 million by 2025," the statement reads.

It is noted that through the Nansen programme, Norwegian People's Aid has established itself as one of 69 certified international partners that assist in mine clearance work. Norwegian People's Aid's efforts include, among other things, training 14 mine dogs and developing Ukraine's own mine clearance capacity through the use of dogs.

"Mines do not discriminate between combatants and civilians. Demining and mine clearance saves lives here and now, but also saves future generations from injury and death of civilians. Norwegian People's Aid has extensive experience in mine clearance, and their efforts are an important contribution to ensuring a safe future for the Ukrainian people," said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.

The Norwegian government emphasized that Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine has led to enormous suffering and created problems that will take many years for Ukraine to resolve.

"The spread of mines and explosives over very large areas has resulted in important parts of Ukrainian agriculture being disrupted. This affects both Ukraine and many regions of the world that depend on Ukrainian agricultural products," the statement said.