EU provides 90 vehicles to Ukrainian law enforcement agencies

The EU-funded PRAVO Police Programme has delivered 90 vehicles to Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, with a total value of close to €2 million.

According to Meri Akopyan, Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, since the start of the full-scale war, the National Police of Ukraine (NPU) has lost over 1,000 vehicles. “The same applies to the State Border Guard Service, the State Emergency Service, the National Guard – all entities of the Ministry of Interior’s system. We are now facing a pressing need for all-terrain vehicles, professional rescue equipment, demining items, and means to tackle other challenges,” said Akopyan.

The NPU says police duties have increased dramatically with the onset of Russian aggression against Ukraine. “Our officers take part in military operations, maintain public order in de-occupied territories and mined areas, conduct pre-trial investigations of war crimes, act as first responders and provide medical assistance. The high-capacity off-road vehicles we are receiving today will facilitate all of these responsibilities,” said Vasyl Nevolya, Head of the International Police Cooperation Department of the NPU.

The equipment has been procured within the programme ‘Support for Rule of Law Reforms in Ukraine in the Areas of Police and Public Prosecution and Good Governance’ (PRAVO Police), funded by the EU and implemented by UNOPS in close coordination with the EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine.