When children in Kharkiv arrive for a mine safety session, the first thing many of them notice isn't the instructor or the information boards. It's Chivas.
Chivas is a six-year-old German Spitz - cheerful, gentle, and, according to every child who's met him, very beautiful. He's also become one of the most effective tools our partner organisation, the Ukrainian Deminers Association, has for teaching children in frontline Ukraine how to stay safe.
Why mine awareness matters right now
Ukraine is currently the most heavily mined country in the world. More than 139,000 square kilometres of territory are potentially contaminated with explosive hazards - from mines and missile fragments to remnants of Shahed drones. These dangers don't stay on the front line. They reach villages, towns, and cities where children live, play, and walk to school.
Since the start of full-scale war in February 2022, at least 179 children have been killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance in Ukraine, according to the UN. Clearing contaminated land, experts say, could take decades.
That's where education comes in.
Stop. Do not touch. Call 112.
The sessions run by the Ukrainian Deminers Association are designed to give children one clear set of actions they'll actually remember. If you find an unfamiliar object: stop, don't touch it, call the emergency number 112.
From September 2025 to March 2026, 9,153 children attended these sessions across Kharkiv and Dnipro regions. A further 3,155 adults - parents and teachers - also took part.
Kostiantyn, 31, one of the session coaches, explains why the interactive format matters: "When a child leaves our session and someone asks what they learned, they often remember there was a dog and some kind of interactive activity. In this way, the information stays with them longer and is absorbed much better."
Chivas performs commands during the sessions - sit, find, bring - and children ask questions, practice safe behaviours, and leave with clear knowledge of what to do in a dangerous situation. Teachers note improved concentration and engagement compared to traditional formats.
What children say
Arina, 13, who attended a session in Kharkiv, put it simply: "The dog is very kind and cheerful. I learned that rockets travel very fast and cannot always be intercepted. I think these sessions are important in our area because we are very close to the war."
Evgen, 13, had never held a dog before - only cats. "Chivas interacted with everyone, came up to us, and asked to be picked up. One new thing I learned was about the universal emergency number 112."
Kseniia, 14, learned about KABs and FABs - aerial bombs that children in eastern Ukraine now live alongside. "You should not approach them or touch them. You should call 112 immediately."
Beyond education
Mine safety sessions are one part of a broader programme. Through the same partnership, financial assistance has been provided to more than 270 people - including 23 children - who have been injured by landmines or shelling. Psychological and legal support has been provided to a further 41 individuals. And in the Dnipro region, 10 hectares of land have been cleared of mines and explosive remnants.
The sessions can't undo the contamination. But they can give a child the knowledge to walk home safely.
*Names changed to protect identities. All statistics from the Ukrainian Deminers Association project data, March 2026.
