PHNOM PENH: The Director-General of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), Heng Ratana, has confirmed that Cambodia plans to send demining experts to train Ukrainian deminers in early December 2022.

Speaking with EAC News over the phone on Thursday morning, 3 November, the CMAC Director-General confirmed that Cambodia plans to send demining technicians to train two groups of Ukrainian deminers. The first group of technicians will leave in early December and the second group will go in the first quarter of 2023.

"We plan to send them in early December, but have not yet set a specific date, which now something we have to discuss further,” he said.

He added that the CMAC is working with Japanese partners to ensure the safety of Cambodian deminers in Ukraine.

"We send technicians to train people there (in Ukraine), but only where it is safe, we do not go to help clear mines in dangerous places, we only go to teach demining skills," he clarified.

This important mission is being made after the Prime Minister of Cambodia spoke with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, over the phone on Tuesday, 1 November, and promised him that Cambodia would send demining technicians to help train deminers in Ukraine.

Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine on 24 February early this year, calling it a “special military operation.” Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has justified the invasion by saying there was an urgent need for Russia to demilitarize Ukraine in order to protect the Donbas Republic and ensure that Russia will not be under NATO threat from Ukrainian territory.

Over eight months have passed since the war began. The invasion has caused the deaths and injury of tens of thousands in both Ukraine and Russia, and triggered a major refugee crisis in Europe, the largest since World War II. There has also been severe damage to civilian infrastructure, as well as serious energy and food crises along with rising inflation all over the world. At present, ASEAN countries are working hard to help find a peaceful solution in all aspects for Ukraine to regain peace, stability, territorial integrity and development.