FOREST RELEASE AND EMERGENCY MANAGMENT INTITATIVE UKRAINE
(FOREMI-UKR)
FIREFRONT FOUNDATION IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE FOREST RELEASE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE UKRAINE
Mission
FOREMI UKR is a national program created to protect firefighters and restore Ukraine’s forests in areas contaminated by landmines, unexploded ordnance, and radiation.
The initiative is developing a fully autonomous wildfire suppression and forest management system that can operate where human access is too dangerous. By using Ukrainian defense-derived technologies such as unmanned ground vehicles, aerial drones, and advanced sensors, FOREMI UKR is building a new generation of tools to fight fires safely and restore ecosystems in high-risk environments.
The Problem
Thousands of square kilometers of Ukrainian forest are contaminated with explosives and remnants of war. These areas are at constant risk of wildfire. When they burn, the flames spread toxins, destroy critical ecosystems, and endanger nearby communities.
In many cases, firefighters cannot safely approach the fire. Mines, shells, and radiation make traditional ground suppression impossible. Fires are often left to burn unchecked, causing catastrophic loss of forest cover and biodiversity.
FOREMI UKR was established to solve this problem through technology. It provides a safe and effective way to manage wildfires and begin ecological recovery in areas that were once inaccessible.
The Forest Release and Emergency Management Initiative Ukraine (FOREMI UKR) is a national applied research and technology validation program focused on protecting firefighters and restoring Ukraine's forests in areas contaminated by landmines, unexploded ordnance, and other remnants of war.
FOREMI UKR will develop, test, and deploy an autonomous wildfire suppression and forest management system capable of operating in high risk environments where human access is dangerous or impossible. This includes mined forests, zones with chemical or radiological hazards such as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, and areas where destroyed infrastructure has reduced fire response capacity.
This initiative is fundamentally centered on firefighter safety. It is designed to prevent Ukrainian firefighters, foresters, and emergency responders from being forced to choose between operational inaction and life threatening exposure.
The program will leverage Ukrainian dual use defense technology, including autonomous ground vehicles, unmanned aviation, sensor fusion systems, and AI enabled operational software, to create a complete robotic firefighting ecosystem for contaminated environments.
Key objectives
Develop a remote wildfire suppression system that protects firefighters by eliminating direct exposure to mines and radiation
Establish a national framework for robotic fire operations in contaminated forests
Validate defense technologies for peaceful, environmental, and humanitarian use
Accelerate the safe rehabilitation and release of contaminated forests for restoration and community use
FOREMI UKR functions as a coalition platform bringing Ukrainian emergency agencies, forestry authorities, defense technology companies, academic partners, and humanitarian organizations together to deliver a field validated system for autonomous wildfire response and forest recovery.
Ukrainian wildfire responders operate in conditions with no international precedent. Millions of acres of forested land contain UXO, landmines, and artillery fragments placed since 2022. Many zones remain dangerous even after fire suppression. Traditional ground firefighting is impossible in large areas.
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FOREMI UKR is focused on mission areas:
Protect Firefighters
We design and deploy robotic and unmanned systems that can operate in dangerous terrain, reducing exposure and ensuring that no responder is put at risk from explosives or radiation.
Suppress Fires Autonomously
Our systems detect, analyze, and suppress wildfires using advanced sensors, unmanned vehicles, and AI-driven decision tools that communicate in real time with Ukrainian emergency agencies.Restore Forests
After fires are extinguished, FOREMI UKR robots assist with seed dispersal, soil stabilization, and environmental monitoring to accelerate safe reforestation and land release.
Ukrainian Technology for Global Recovery
FOREMI UKR draws on Ukraine’s world-leading defense and robotics industry. Technologies originally designed for logistics, surveillance, and demining are being adapted for environmental and humanitarian use.
Ukrainian companies such as RoverTech, Termit, Volta E, and Targan300 are developing ground and aerial platforms capable of remote suppression, mapping, and recovery operations. These systems use open-architecture software, hybrid propulsion, and resilient communication networks to perform safely under battlefield-like conditions.
By transforming defense technology into tools for peace and environmental protection, FOREMI UKR helps Ukraine lead the world in applied dual-use innovation.
Use Case Development and Project Execution
Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
Testing remote suppression and monitoring in radiological forests.
Kharkiv Region
Validating robotic fire suppression and communication resilience in mine-contaminated zones.
Chernihiv Region
Deploying autonomous systems for post-fire reforestation and ecological recovery.
Each pilot site serves as a proving ground for technology integration, operator training, and long-term data collection to improve future operations.
Establish standardized procedures for robotic operations in contaminated terrain
FOREMI-UKR will produce a comprehensive suite of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for autonomous and semi-autonomous systems operating in UXO-affected forests. These SOPs will be developed in coordination with government and NGO organizations to ensure compliance with Ukrainian and international standards.
METHODOLOGY
The FOREMI - UKR approach follows an applied-research and field-validation cycle designed to ensure each technology performs safely and effectively in real-world conditions.
1. Hazard Mapping
Using UAV-based LiDAR, multispectral imaging, and mine-action data, FOREMI UKR creates detailed hazard and fuel maps to identify areas suitable for autonomous operations.
2. Prototype Development
Ukrainian defense-technology partners integrate robotic platforms, sensors, and communication modules into testbed systems adapted for wildfire conditions.
3. Controlled Field Testing
Under the supervision of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, prototypes are tested in controlled burn zones to measure detection speed, suppression accuracy, and system reliability.
4. Data Integration and Learning
Every field test feeds data into AI algorithms that continuously improve fire-behavior modeling, risk prediction, and autonomous decision-making.
5. Operational Training
Firefighters and forestry personnel are trained to operate, monitor, and maintain the systems through specialized national certification programs.
6. Scale and Replication
Validated systems are deployed to new regions, refined through feedback, and standardized into national procedures for contaminated-area firefighting and forest management.
This iterative process ensures that FOREMI UKR technology is tested, refined, and proven before full-scale adoption—bridging the gap between research and operational readiness.
INITIATIVE PHASES
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JOIN THE MISSION
FOREMI UKR represents a new approach to emergency management and post-conflict recovery. By combining humanitarian goals with technological innovation, we are proving that the same tools built for war can help rebuild and protect the environment.
We invite donors, technology partners, and research institutions to join us in expanding this model across Ukraine and into other post-conflict regions.
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Support our mission by contributing a donation DIRECTLY TO THE IM[PLEMENTATION OPERATIONS OF FOREMI-UKR.