United to win: Ukrainian rescuers to receive five fire trucks from Switzerland

Switzerland plans to deliver five fire trucks to Ukrainian emergency services.

Rubryka reports, referring to the statement of the Swiss embassy in Ukraine.

What is the problem?

Firefighters and rescuers are often the first to rush to the scene of shelling. They put out fires, search for people under rubble, and accompany convoys of humanitarian corridors. Those shellings often continue when first responders are at the sites of strikes.

"Since the beginning of the war, the State Emergency Service has carried out more than 28,000 trips, extinguished 8,653 fires, rescued 1,309 people, and provided psychological assistance to 125,000," said the spokesperson for the State Emergency Service, Oleksandr Khorunzhyi. "110,593 munitions were destroyed, including 1,975 aerial bombs. The territory with an area of 21,709 hectares was surveyed." 

Also, the Russian forces often purposefully attack fire departments, so the rescuers lose not only the lives of their colleagues but also their equipment.

Recently, Russian troops attacked the fire department in the city of Izium, Kharkiv region, by night, injuring eight rescuers on duty. The building itself and 13 pieces of fire equipment were also damaged.

What is the solution?

Partner countries help replace lost equipment. To support Ukrainian firefighters, Switzerland plans to hand over five fire trucks to Ukrainian emergency services.

"We continue to support the work of rescuers in Ukraine. Switzerland will hand over five fire trucks to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine by the end of the month," the statement said.

How does it work?

The partner country's embassy reported that Swiss experts would also visit Ukraine to conduct car operation training for Ukrainian colleagues.

After that, the vehicles will be distributed among the fire departments. They will go to areas lacking specialized equipment or with a high load.

Switzerland has repeatedly assisted Ukraine. At the beginning of the summer, the European country allocated an aid package to Ukraine for demining territories, providing a special remote-controlled machine and conducting training for specialists.

As Rubryka reported, the Swiss manufacturing company Global Clearance Solutions will deliver 20 demining machines to Ukraine in 2023.