Solutions to win: EU allies provide special equipment for Ukrainian sapper dogs

European allies have provided Ukraine's National Police with 16 new trailers equipped to transport service dogs.

This equipment will help police officers perform their tasks in the de-occupied territories and areas close to Russian hostilities.

What is the problem?

Dogs work alongside humans in times of Russia's new stage of war. The four-legged sapper assistants detect mines, improvised explosive devices, shells, unexploded rockets, etc.

Dogs-searchers detect mines and other explosive objects and need protective equipment even more than humans, as they are the first to inspect the territory.

What is the solution?

16 new trailers equipped to transport service dogs were delivered to canine units in different regions of Ukraine.

How does it work?

Rolf Holmbo, Head of the EU Advisory Mission, joined the ceremony of handing over the equipment.

The police face new challenges, so law enforcement officers must respond promptly. Rolf Holmbo noted that the EU Mission is helping Ukrainian partners to resume work in the de-occupied territories.

Every day you demonstrate to the world your extraordinary determination to come out of this war victorious and to defend your land. We are making efforts to provide you with additional equipment, additional vehicles, specialized vehicles like the ones we are handing over today, as well as personal protective equipment, medical equipment, machinery to support you in your work in the de-occupied territories, he said.

Service dogs' main tasks today are detecting weapons, mines, and unexploded objects, especially in the de-occupied territories. This task is critically important and requires proper transportation of service dogs to the places where they perform their work in dangerous conditions.

Therefore, dog handlers in Donetsk, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Kherson, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovs'k, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Lviv, Rivne, Chernivtsi, Cherkasy, Khmelnytsky, Zhytomyr regions and the city of Kyiv received special trailers.

During the war, service dogs help in demining, evacuation, inspecting the streets, and also provide psychological assistance. The National Police of Kyiv region employs Ukraine's only emotional support dog.