Richard Loydell: Humanitarian demining could become Ukraine’s next major economic driver

Exclusive interview with Richard Loydell, Director of DOK-ING Ukraine, for Interfax-Ukraine News Agency

We had a candid conversation with Richard Loydell, Director of DOK-ING Ukraine, on how to transform Croatia’s demining success into Ukraine’s reality. Loydell explained how his company has deployed highly effective robotic systems, achieved 30% localization with plans to reach 50% soon, and transferred decades of technological know-how. Drawing direct parallels with Croatia’s journey, the retired, career military officer - who once commanded naval forces and developed the naval mine warfare strategy and doctrine for South Africa - shared his vision for demining, calling it Ukraine’s next major economic driver.

Text: Valerie Proshchenko

Demining Efforts, Localization, and Lessons from Croatia

**Q: Tell us about yourself, your company, what DOK-ING is doing in Ukraine, your purpose here, and what has already been accomplished.**

R.L.: I have 45 years of experience in the explosive risk mitigation and disposal industry having worked in the military, commercial, offshore and humanitarian sectors across most conflict-affected countries of the world. Currently, I am the Director of DOK-ING Ukraine.

DOK-ING has been present in Ukraine since the very first days of the full-scale invasion. We officially established LLC DOK-ING Ukraine on 11 October 2024, and our machines were already working here long before that. Today, we are the leader having delivered 69 robotic demining systems with most of them being operated by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU), the State Special Transport Service, and leading international NGOs.

Our mission is twofold. Firstly, full localization of production in Ukraine and