Interview: Oksana Vovk - Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute
1. Overview of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute
Q: As the Director of the Institute of Energy Saving and Energy Management (IEE), could you elaborate on the historical and current role of Igor Sikorsky KPI in supporting Ukraine’s security and defense infrastructure during the ongoing conflict?
A: Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute has always been one of Ukraine’s leading engineering universities and a center for technological innovation. Historically, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute played a key role in supporting industrial modernization, energy systems, aviation, and engineering sciences. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute has intensified its role in humanitarian mine action, infrastructure protection, AI, UAV technologies, cybersecurity, and resilience-oriented engineering education.
2. The Innovation Center
Q: What was the mission behind the creation of the Educational and Research Center for Innovative Technologies in Humanitarian Demining?
A: The Center was established to create a unique ecosystem combining academia, government institutions, business, operators, and international organizations in order to accelerate Ukraine’s recovery from explosive contamination. Over two years, the Center evolved into one of Ukraine’s leading academic platforms in humanitarian mine action. We launched unique Bachelor’s and Master’s programs dedicated specifically to humanitarian demining and innovative technologies in mine action.
3. Bridging the Research-Field Gap
Q: Could you describe your research on explosive wave interaction?
A: My research focuses on explosive wave propagation, protective engineering, and infrastructure resilience. Using advanced numerical modeling such as ANSYS AUTODYN allows us to simulate blast-wave propagation, fragmentation effects, and infrastructure response in order to develop safer technologies and methodologies.
4. A New Generation of Engineers
Q: What makes your educational programs unique?
A: We are preparing not simply deminers, but a new generation of engineers capable of solving multidisciplinary challenges. Students study AI, UAV systems, GIS analytics, cybersecurity, VR/AR technologies, systems engineering, and mathematical modeling. Our goal is to educate technology leaders capable of integrating innovation into operational practice.
5. UNOPS Hardware Integration
Q: How is the equipment integrated into education and research?
A: The equipment received through UNOPS support is integrated into practical training, UAV testing, sensor calibration, and operational simulations. Students directly work with modern technologies during their studies.
6. VR, AR, and AI in EOD
Q: What role do immersive technologies play?
A: VR, AR, and AI technologies will fundamentally transform humanitarian mine action education. KPI launched initiatives such as the VR Deminer’s Lab and actively develops AI-assisted UAV detection systems together with international and industrial partners.
7. Veteran Participation
Q: Why is veteran participation important?
A: Veterans possess unique operational knowledge and practical experience. We see them not only as trainees but also as future instructors, project managers, innovators, and leaders within the humanitarian mine action ecosystem.
8. Holistic Career Development
Q: Why does your program include entrepreneurship and project management?
A: Modern humanitarian mine action requires leadership competencies. Therefore, our programs include project management, technical English, grant writing, entrepreneurship, and innovation management.
9. The International Community’s Role
Q: What role should international partners play?
A: International partners provide technology transfer, training support, expertise, and institutional cooperation. For Ukraine, investment in mine action is an investment in peace, recovery, and long-term resilience.
10. Partnerships with Japan
Q: How can Japanese partnerships accelerate demining?
A: Our cooperation with Japanese organizations focuses on UAV monitoring, SAR technologies, teleoperation systems, and AI-driven analytics. Such technologies can significantly accelerate regional demining efforts.
11. Collaborative Memorandums
Q: How do partnerships support innovation?
A: We actively cooperate with MAT Kosovo / PCM Group, FRENDT, Active Alliance LLC (Trembita), U-MAG, Lviv State University of Life Safety, and many others. Together with MAT Kosovo we launched IMAS-oriented training initiatives. With FRENDT, within a UNIDO-supported project, we are developing AI-driven explosive ordnance detection systems.
12. The UK-Ukraine Twinning Initiative
Q: What lessons did you bring back from the UK?
A: One of the key lessons is that universities should function as resilience hubs for society, combining education, innovation, crisis response, and community engagement.
13. Professional Balance
Q: How do you manage work-life balance?
A: Maintaining balance during wartime is difficult. However, what motivates me is seeing real impact — students developing meaningful projects, veterans building new careers, and international partners believing in Ukraine’s future.
Oksana Vovk is a Professor and Doctor of Technical Sciences, and serves as the Director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Energy Saving and Energy Management at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.
Her scientific work focuses on the protection of critical infrastructure, engineering systems, and natural objects from the impact of explosive loads and blast-wave processes. Both of her doctoral dissertations were dedicated to studying the effects of explosive waves on natural and engineering structures, including modeling, prediction, and mitigation of destructive blast impacts.
Today, Oksana Vovk is one of the key initiators of interdisciplinary approaches in Ukraine that combine engineering, humanitarian mine action, artificial intelligence, UAV technologies, and the education of a new generation of engineers for Ukraine’s post-war recovery.
She is also the founder and coordinator of the Educational and Research Center for Innovative Technologies in Humanitarian Demining at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, which has become one of Ukraine’s leading academic platforms in the field of humanitarian mine action, technological innovation, and international cooperation.
Additional Context on Strategic Partnerships and Ecosystem Development
One of the strongest indicators of the rapid development of our Center is the formation of a truly multidisciplinary ecosystem in the field of humanitarian mine action. From the very beginning, our vision was not limited to creating another academic program. The goal was to build a sustainable innovation ecosystem where universities, international organizations, private companies, government agencies, operators, engineers, researchers, and veterans work together within a unified framework.
This ecosystem approach allows us to move much faster from concept to implementation and ensures that technologies developed in laboratories can be adapted to operational realities in the field.
A very important recent step in this direction was the signing of a cooperation agreement with MAT Kosovo / PCM Group — an internationally recognized organization with extensive operational experience in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), humanitarian mine action, and training according to international standards.
Following the agreement, we immediately started implementing a joint project focused on training in accordance with IMAS (International Mine Action Standards). This cooperation is extremely valuable for us because it combines:
operational expertise from international practitioners,
KPI’s academic and engineering potential,
and the growing technological capabilities of Ukrainian partners.
Together, we are working not only on training programs, but on creating modern educational methodologies that combine practical EOD competencies with advanced technologies such as AI, UAV systems, digital simulation, and VR-based learning environments.
Another key strategic partner is FRENDT (Precision Agriculture Centre), one of the most technologically advanced Ukrainian companies working in digital transformation and precision technologies.
Today, Ukraine is witnessing the emergence of a new generation of high-tech companies that do not simply react to market challenges but systematically shape the future of entire industries. FRENDT is one of the strongest examples of this transformation.
Over the last year, KPI has been actively cooperating with FRENDT within several innovation-oriented initiatives. The company combines strong engineering infrastructure with its own advanced R&D capabilities. In particular, FRENDT operates the largest RTK network in Ukraine, consisting of more than 250 base stations capable of providing positioning accuracy up to 2.5 cm. This infrastructure creates the technological foundation for large-scale implementation of precision systems, autonomous platforms, and high-accuracy data analytics.
Equally important is the company’s internal R&D ecosystem, including the development of the FlyAgData platform — an advanced AgTech system for real-time collection, visualization, integration, and analysis of agronomic and machinery data. Such platforms demonstrate how modern AI-driven analytics can support decision-making in complex operational environments.
Our cooperation with FRENDT has naturally expanded beyond agriculture into dual-use and humanitarian applications. Together, within a UNIDO-supported international project, we are currently developing a unique AI-driven system for explosive ordnance detection. The project combines:
UAV technologies,
AI-based analytics,
sensor integration,
geospatial intelligence,
and real-time data processing.
This work is particularly important because Ukraine today requires scalable technological solutions capable of accelerating land release and reducing risks for operators.
One of the most impressive examples of FRENDT’s engineering capabilities is the robotic unmanned platform “Unhero Surveyor X1”, which we had the opportunity to observe during the opening of the Ukrainian Training and Testing Complex in Lviv.
The platform is not merely an experimental prototype, but a carefully engineered operational system designed for work in hazardous environments. Built on low-pressure tires, it significantly reduces risks associated with anti-tank mines and explosive hazards while maintaining high mobility in difficult terrain.
For us, partnerships with companies such as FRENDT demonstrate the importance of combining:
academic expertise,
industrial engineering,
operational needs,
and international cooperation.
This is exactly the model we are building at KPI — an integrated ecosystem in humanitarian mine action where:
educational programs are supported by real technologies,
research is validated through field testing,
private sector innovation accelerates implementation,
and international partnerships create pathways for global cooperation and funding.
Ultimately, our goal is not only to train specialists, but to create a new generation of engineers and innovators capable of solving the complex, multidimensional challenges caused by explosive contamination and the long-term consequences of war in Ukraine.
Additional Interview Section: Innovative Remote Destructor Technology
Q: KPI actively cooperates with Ukrainian technology companies in the field of humanitarian mine action. Could you share examples of practical engineering solutions currently being integrated into your ecosystem?
A:One of the important examples of practical innovation within our ecosystem is the development of a Remote Destructor System created by our partner company Teploatom Service LLC.
The system is designed for the complete or partial destruction of explosive ordnance without direct operator contact with the hazardous object. This significantly increases operational safety during explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) activities and allows operators to work more effectively in dangerous environments.
The Remote Destructor includes several integrated components:
a directed-action mechanism,
a blank-action cartridge with an electrical activator,
a remote initiation module,
vertical and horizontal targeting drives,
a target designation system,
a control unit,
and a working charge using either liquid or solid inert elements.
The system allows precise remote targeting and controlled disruption of explosive hazards while minimizing risks to personnel.
What is especially important for us at KPI is that such developments are not isolated engineering products. They are integrated into a broader innovation ecosystem that combines:
academic research,
operational expertise,
practical testing,
AI-assisted analytics,
and educational programs.
Through cooperation with companies such as Teploatom Service, FRENDT, U-MAG, and other industrial partners, we are building an environment where Ukrainian engineering solutions can move rapidly from concept and testing to practical field implementation.
This ecosystem approach is critically important for Ukraine today because the scale of explosive contamination requires not only operational capacity, but also continuous technological innovation capable of accelerating land release and improving safety for both operators and civilians.
Essential for safety and faster operations
Helpful, but human expertise is still the key
Traditional methods are more reliable than advanced technology
