EU and UNDP provide Ukrainian rescuers with specialised equipment

The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine have provided the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) with new equipment worth US$410,000 (€398,000).

The SES units in Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson oblasts have received advanced technical equipment, while local firefighting teams in 10 communities across Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts have also been provided with critical tools.

Ukrainian rescuers received explosion-proof flashlights for nighttime and low-visibility operations, jackhammers, and battery-powered combination rotary hammers for debris removal. They were also supplied with battery-operated telescopic hydraulic jacks, which are essential for quickly reaching people trapped in collapsed buildings and damaged vehicles. Additionally, the deliveries included fire hoses, chainsaws, and motor pumps to strengthen firefighting efforts and enhance flood management caused by shelling and other emergencies.

“The speed and efficiency of first responders’ work directly impacts the number of lives saved,” said Stefan Schleuning, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

The equipment delivery is part of a broader support programme implemented by the EU and UNDP as part of the flagship EU-UNDP partnership ‘EU4Recovery — Empowering Communities in Ukraine’. The programme aims to strengthen community resilience and enhance residents’ ability to respond to current challenges, particularly amid active hostilities of war and post-destruction recovery efforts.

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Press release