NewsNews24 May 2023

"We have to live here": Kyivstar, 1+1 media and Come Back Alive launch fundraiser for 146 demining teams to clear the country of mines

The We Live Here campaign is being launched in Ukraine. Its goal is to raise UAH 175 million to provide transport and all the equipment and property necessary for demining to 146 engineering and demining groups as part of the Armed Forces Support Force. The project was initiated by Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation, and 1+1 media group became a partner of the initiative. As part of the collection, you can subscribe to a monthly donation or make an individual contribution on the initiative's website. 


Ukraine is the most mined country in the world, ahead of Syria and Afghanistan. About 30% of our territory is contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance, according to the State Emergency Service. In turn, the Government of Ukraine has identified demining as one of the five key priorities for the country's rapid recovery. The demining process is no less important than the restoration of social and critical infrastructure. 


"During a shift, a sapper defuses dozens of explosive devices. Of course, with such a workload, we need equipment for fast and high-quality demining. So I would like to thank everyone who has contributed," says Yulia "Romashka", a sapper with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 


To improve safety during the demining of Ukrainian territories, Kyivstar, together with the army's competent assistance fund Come Back Alive and 1+1 media group, is initiating a fundraising campaign called We Live Here. The funds will be used to purchase vehicles and necessary equipment for engineering and demining teams of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 


"Ukrainian sappers are the first to enter the de-occupied towns and villages, providing conditions for the restoration of critical infrastructure, including enabling Kyivstar specialists to restore mobile communications. Assisting in demining is an important mission for our company. Kyivstar allocates UAH 20,000,000 for the collection and calls on Ukrainians and Ukrainian businesses to support the initiative. Everyone can make a contribution and send a donation on the project website," commented Oleksandr Komarov, President of Kyivstar.


"Every Ukrainian is now working for the Victory, making every effort to make this day come as soon as possible. And now we need to initiate projects that will help eliminate the consequences of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This is the project "We Live Here". 1+1 media is happy to join the communication of all stages of the project and will use the media group's platforms to inform Ukrainians about mine safety. We are grateful to our partners for such a crucial initiative," commented 1+1 media CEO Yaroslav Pakholchuk on the partnership.


"About a third of our territory and all coastal waters need demining. The world has been dealing with similar tasks for decades. That is why it is important to act as soon as possible," says Taras Chmut, director of the Come Back Alive Foundation. "The sappers of the Armed Forces Support Force work both in the already de-occupied territories and in the areas where active hostilities are taking place. They are clearing our land of Russian mines and shell remnants on a huge scale.

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