The State Emergency Service of Ukraine

The members of the INSARAG classified Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team MRC Ukraine took part in the training on the use of the new INSARAG Management and Coordination System (ICMS), held on January 21, 2021. ICMS offers a standardized and systematic approach to collect and report information to all levels in line with the INSARAG USAR Coordination Methodology.

On January 21, within the framework of the U-LEAD with Europe Program, an information session was held on the topic: “Safety and environmental aspects in the organization of territorial communities of Prykarpattia” with the participation of structural units of the regional state administration, representatives of the regional office of the U-LEAD with Europe Program, representatives of the SES of Ukraine in the region, and the heads of the united territorial communities of Prykarpattia. This event was held online on the platform Ms Teams.

For several days in a row, the rescuers have been persistently warning the citizens about the avalanche danger on the slopes of the Carpathians. Snowfalls and blizzards in the highlands pose a direct threat to human life and health of tourists who, despite the warnings of the rescuers, go to the mountains in bad weather.

Due to forecasted complication of weather conditions, the number of emergencies typical for this period has increased in some oblasts of Ukraine. So, from the beginning of bad weather the rescuers began to rescue vehicles from ditches and snow-covered sections of the roads.

The water ponds become popular places for children and fishermen in winter and also serve as a natural crossing when heavy ice appears. In present time, there is unstable frosty weather in Ukraine, so the ice hasn’t gained the required thickness and it is dangerous to get on it. In order to prevent the occurrence of tragic situations in the water sources of Ukraine, the specialists of the Rescue Service provide preventive measures with the population on a daily basis, explaining the consequences of neglecting the security measures at ice.

On January 12, Mykola Chechotkin, Head of the State Emergency Service, took part in a regular conference of the State Commission on Technogenic and Ecological Safety and Emergencies, at which participants considered and approved the draft Action Plan of Central and Local Executive Bodies and Local Governments loods and floods in 2021.

Recently, within the framework of the project "Improving the capabilities of operational and rescue units of the SES of Ukraine in Zakarpattia region", implemented by the iHELP Institute Foundation and funded by the Polish Development Cooperation Program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, a regular international meeting was held on the basis of the Office of the SES of Zakarpatya by video conference.

In order to prevent emergencies related to the death of people on water bodies, rescuers are carrying out preventive work near winter reservoirs. Experts from the Rescue Service emphasize that going out on the ice is dangerous now: the ice has not gained the required thickness, and unstable weather poses a direct threat to the life and health of people who go out on the ice. Thus, since the beginning of the new 2021, at least 10 people have died in the country's reservoirs.

Taking care of children's safety, teaching them to behave properly in extreme situations is an urgent task for all adults, because children are the future of the nation. It is very unfortunate that the irresponsibility and inadequate attention of parents to teaching their children the rules of safe living lead to very tragic consequences. To prevent negative situations, rescuers make every effort, namely: carry out active outreach work, in particular, in educational institutions, arrange educational tours for children, as well as participate in other activities with the participation of children.

Rescuers are stepping up preventive work in religious buildings, communicating with the abbots of churches and temples, as well as the faithful people to prevent as many dangerous events inherent in the winter. Traditionally, during the Christmas celebrations, the risk factors increase. This is what the specialists of the Rescue Service told during the preventive tests.

Rescuers from Donetsk region received modern medical equipment, which was purchased by UNDP under the UN Program for the Restoration and Peacebuilding with EU funds.

For the period of celebrating the New Year holidays, the units of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine are moving to an enhanced mode of service and are ready to respond to any emergencies of man-made and natural nature.

2020 was a dificult year for the whole world. Ukrainian rescuers also had many challenges, events and victories. During these difficult and truly unforgettable 12 months, units of the State Emergency Service eliminated more than 100,000 fires, prevented the destruction of more than 28,000 buildings, destroyed more than 73,000 explosive devices, and most importantly, saved more than 1,500 lives.

The calendar for the new 2021 was presented by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. The main theme of the calendar was "CHALLENGE" - the first Ukrainian series about rescuers of the SES, which was released this year.

The demining process is a very important factor in ensuring an access of the population, living near the demarcation line, to pastures, fields, forests, roads, etc. The International Committee of the Red Cross provides assistance to those who carry out demining in Donbass. Only this year, the Committee transferred personal computers and printers, furniture, tools, markings, tapes and other consumables to the pyrotechnic unit of the Main Department of the SES of Ukraine in Luhansk region.

In the framework of implementation of the project “EU Support for Eastern Ukraine - Restoration, Peacebuilding and Governance” of the United Nations Program for Peacebuilding and Reconstruction, the Main Department has got a quadcopter DJI Matrice 300 RTK.

Units of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine switch to an enhanced mode of service and are ready to respond to any emergencies of man-made and natural nature. In particular, in each region of the country the places of mass events have been clarified, fire safety monitoring has been intensified at potentially dangerous objects and objects of state importance, preventive work is being carried out with the population on actions in case of emergencies.

In order to celebrate Christmas safely, SES experts remind you of the need to follow safety rules when using the traditional attributes of New Year and Christmas celebrations. These are, first of all, pyrotechnic products, candles and electric garlands.

Harsh weather conditions, as well as ignoring the warnings of rescuers may result in trouble for tourists who go hiking in the mountains or spend their leisure time at ski resorts. However, emergency workers are always ready to come to the rescue. On the eve of the New Year and Christmas holidays, when citizens go on a weekend or vacation in the western region of Ukraine, the mountain rescuers improve their skills and increase their readiness to save people from trouble in the mountains.

On December 23, within the framework of the project “EU Support for Eastern Ukraine - Restoration, Peacebuilding and Governance” of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Ukraine, the firefighters of the Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Zaporizhia Oblast received technical equipment for digital communication.

On December 21, the humanitarian cargo was handed over to the participants of the project “Improvement of Civil Protection System in the United Territorial Communities of Ukraine” hosted by the Red Cross Society of Ukraine in Kyiv oblast. This initiative is being implemented jointly with the Association of Voluntary Fire Brigades of the Republic of Poland within the framework of the program “U-LEAD with Europe”.

New Years trees are already on sale – it is the main attribute of such an expected winter holiday. Someone has even started decorating the green beauty, so it is very important for rescuers to remind Ukrainians about the rules of safe installation of the New Year tree.

On December 18, a working meeting of representatives of the Rescue Service of Ukraine and representatives of UNDP, chaired by the Deputy Head of the SES Ruslan Biloshitsky, took place in the SES. The parties discussed prospects for cooperation under the Sendai Framework Program for Emergency Risk Reduction. During the event, the participants emphasized that it is important to analyze what has been done in this direction so far, and to determine priorities for further cooperation.

Comprehensive work to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus infection in Ukraine is ongoing. In cooperation with local authorities, rescuers disinfect social facilities, decontaminate sections of roads, sidewalks, etc. Thus, for the past 24hrs, on December 17, the SES units were 72 times engaged in activities on prevention of the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.

A nationwide survey conducted by the Razumkov Centre's sociological service during December 4 to 9, 2020, using a face-to-face interview at the respondents' place of residence, assessed the situation in the country and determined the level of trust in public institutions and politicians, electoral orientations. Thus, the rescuers of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine were among the top three in the rating of citizens' trust in state and public institutions - 64% of Ukrainians trust us!