A demonstration of Japanese–Ukrainian remote-control technology for construction machinery took place in Kyiv. The event was organized within the framework of a joint initiative of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (MLIT) — the Japan–Ukraine Platform for Infrastructure Technologies for Recovery and Reconstruction (JUPITeR). The Japan–Ukraine JUPITeR platform was created to introduce Japanese solutions into the process of Ukraine’s recovery. Approximately 190 Japanese companies have already joined the platform.
Among the participants were representatives of the governments of Ukraine and Japan, business, and academia: Maryna Denysiuk, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine; Masashi Nakagome, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine; Masaru Kojima, Deputy Minister for International Affairs; Oleksandr Petroshchuk, Director of the Investment Policy Department of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine; Anatolii Melnychenko, Rector of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute; Kenichiro Tachi, Director (International Cooperation and Infrastructure Planning); Akira Yamamoto, President of Kobelco Construction Machinery; Yuliia Skiichko, owner of LLC “VBK ELIT-PROEKTBUD,” member of the Board of Directors of the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine, and Head of the “School of Machinery Operators for Women ‘ALEF STROY’”; Oleksandr Chervak, CEO of the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine; Koji Yamashita, Executive General Manager of Kobelco Construction Machinery; Shinya Hyakutake, Vice President of Soliton Systems; Kerim Sare, Global Business Manager of Soliton Systems.
During the event, Yuliia Skiichko, founder of ALEF STROY, delivered a presentation entitled “Women’s Participation in the Construction Industry and Expectations for Remote Construction Technologies,” emphasizing that modern technologies help overcome gender stereotypes in the construction sector:
“In Ukraine, we have already established the first ‘School of Machinery Operators for Women ‘ALEF STROY,’ whose graduates are working at real construction sites. In the future, a new wave of training is planned with a focus on remote operation of machinery.
Today, the practical capabilities of remote operation of construction machinery are being demonstrated by our employee Kateryna Kolodiuk. She is the youngest of 54 female graduates of the ‘ALEF STROY School of Construction Machinery Operators.’ The distance between the control console and the physical location of the excavators exceeds 8,000 kilometers. From Kyiv, during wartime, a woman operates construction machinery in the Japanese city of Kobe — yes, this is indeed possible.
Of course, we expect that the widespread implementation of remote-control technologies for construction machinery will significantly facilitate and accelerate the pace of ongoing construction and reconstruction, especially in frontline areas. The direct presence of operators in such locations is the main obstacle. We sincerely appreciate that Japanese companies share their experience in this field. Japanese solutions place safety first, combining it with precision, respect for people, and care for quality of life — values that are very close to us. I am convinced that cooperation between Ukraine and Japan in the field of remote construction technologies can become an example of how innovation serves people. Together, we are shaping a new philosophy of construction — intelligent, humane, and inspired. We thank everyone for their support and cooperation.”
All event participants had the opportunity not only to familiarize themselves with the principles of remote systems, but also to test them personally. This confirmed that the future of construction lies in innovative technologies that make the process safer, smarter, and more accessible to a wider range of people.
Author: Yuliia Skiichko
Photo: from the author’s archive