Ukraine tests new unmanned Germina URCM-3000 mine-clearing system to clear 5,000 square meters per hour.

On March 28, 2025, the Ukrainian Demining Services (UDS) announced that Ukraine is currently conducting field trials of the Germina URCM-3000, a domestically developed unmanned demining vehicle designed and produced by the Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Plant (KZVV). The machine was developed with input from experienced Ukrainian humanitarian demining operators and incorporates insights gained from operating Slovak-made Bozena systems. It was specifically adapted to Ukrainian demining conditions, including large-scale contamination, diverse soil types and vegetation, varying climatic conditions, and a wide range of explosive threats resulting from the ongoing war, such as anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines, cluster munitions, and other unexploded ordnance.
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In the first half of 2025, Ukrainian Demining Services (UDS) plans to receive five Germina units from KZVV under an existing agreement for operational deployment in the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions. (Picture source: UDS)

The Germina URCM-3000 is a 16-ton remote-controlled system with blast resistance rated at up to 9 kilograms of TNT. It is equipped with a working mechanism consisting of chains with detonating hammers, capable of neutralizing 75% of explosive devices and detonating an additional 15%. The standard configuration includes a universal bucket for safe soil displacement, trench clearing, and the construction of passages. Additional tools include a cutter, manipulator, and a multifunctional bucket, enabling effective operation in fields, forests, trenches, buildings, and fortified positions.

The machine is powered by a 380-horsepower Caterpillar engine known for fuel efficiency. It uses a Track One Italian chassis and Danfoss hydraulic components from Denmark. Over 60% of the system’s components, including wear parts such as chains, hammers, and cutters, are manufactured in Ukraine. The Germina can be remotely operated from distances of up to 1,000 meters and is rated for year-round use in temperatures ranging from -20°C to +45°C. It can operate continuously for up to 10 hours and requires servicing every two hours during operation.

Demonstration trials organized by UDS took place near Bucha, on land managed by the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences that had previously been cleared of explosives. During testing, the machine covered a 100-meter agricultural strip in 1 minute and 35 seconds, with a demining width of 2.7 meters and a working depth of 5 centimeters. It successfully neutralized all training models placed in the field, including TM-62 and PTM-4 anti-tank mines, PFM anti-personnel mines, and RGO and RGD-5 hand grenades. Based on test performance, the Germina can clear up to 5,000 square meters per hour and up to 5 hectares during a full operational shift.

During testing, the Germina URCM-3000 covered a 100-meter agricultural strip in 1 minute and 35 seconds, with a demining width of 2.7 meters and a working depth of 5 centimeters. (Picture source: UDS)

According to KZVV, the Germina URCM-3000 has a productivity rate 300% higher than comparable foreign-made systems. The estimated cost of the base configuration is approximately €500,000—significantly lower than that of imported equivalents. The system comes with a three-year warranty. KZVV will also provide full lifecycle technical maintenance and repair services within Ukraine. Remote control capabilities, combined with the system’s design and local servicing, aim to reduce risks for personnel and improve overall cost-efficiency in humanitarian demining operations.

In the first half of 2025, Ukrainian Demining Services (UDS) plans to receive five Germina units from KZVV under an existing agreement for operational deployment in the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions. The current prototype is undergoing supervised trial operation as part of this agreement, with support from KZVV engineers and a dedicated UDS commission comprising experienced demining engineers and field personnel.

The Germina URCM-3000 was formally presented to representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Defence, State Emergency Service, State Transport Special Service, the Humanitarian Demining Center, and 27 other organizations, including international donor missions and non-governmental demining entities such as UNOPS, UNDP, The HALO Trust, Global Clearance Solutions, Demining Solutions, Nibulon, Ukrainian Demining Agency, Safe Ground Solutions, and others. Several memoranda of understanding were signed on-site for the procurement of additional Germina machines.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine must take all necessary steps to prevent landmine contamination from becoming a long-term issue for future generations and emphasized the importance of building national capacity in demining technology and production. Deputy Minister of Economy Ihor Bezkaravainyi highlighted the localized nature of the system and its integration with practical knowledge gained from Ukrainian deminers. UDS Technical Director Eduard Drach noted the system’s operational capabilities, including its mobility, maintenance simplicity, and resilience to explosive impacts up to 10 kilograms in TNT equivalent—qualities that could accelerate agricultural land clearance.

The Germina can be remotely operated from distances of up to 1,000 meters and is rated for year-round use in temperatures ranging from -20°C to +45°C. (Picture source: UDS)

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to the extensive use of landmines by both Russian and Ukrainian forces, employing various methods to impede enemy movements and fortify positions. Russian forces have used at least 13 types of antipersonnel mines since the invasion began, including newly manufactured models produced as recently as 2021. These mines have been deployed via manual placement, mechanical laying, and remote delivery systems such as rockets and artillery shells. Commonly used mines include anti-personnel types like the MON series (e.g., MON-50, MON-90) and PFM-1, as well as anti-vehicle mines such as the TM-62 series. In response to Russian advances, Ukrainian forces have also used antipersonnel mines, including U.S.-supplied munitions such as the ADAM and the Modular Pack Mine System.

The widespread deployment of these mines has led to significant contamination. As early as April 2023, approximately 174,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory were affected. As of April 2025, around 23% of Ukraine's territory—approximately 139,000 square kilometers—remains potentially contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance, posing severe risks to civilians and obstructing agricultural activity, as a substantial portion of the mined areas includes farmland. The World Bank estimates that demining will require more than $37 billion and could take at least a decade to complete. In response, Ukraine has intensified its efforts, clearing over 274,000 hectares of farmland in 2023 alone and returning 208,000 hectares to productive use. However, the full extent of contamination remains unknown, and complete clearance will require years of sustained effort and significant financial resources.

To accelerate demining and reduce risks to personnel, Ukraine is increasingly employing unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and other mechanized solutions. Domestic initiatives aim to integrate fully robotic units within combat brigades, with plans to deploy 15,000 UGVs by the end of 2025. The number of mechanized mine-clearing vehicles in Ukraine rose from two to 52 in 2024, with 42 allocated to the Armed Forces and 10 to the State Special Transport Service. Further acquisitions are planned for 2025. Additionally, Ukraine is set to receive 26 GCS-200 demining vehicles from Global Clearance Solutions in 2025, as announced by the Ministry of Defense. Domestically, Ukrainian developers unveiled the MP.5100 demining vehicle in December 2024, designed to neutralize various mine types at depths of up to 30 centimeters. Ukraine is also partnering with companies such as DOK-ING to localize the production of mine-clearing vehicles like the MV-4.