More than 7 thousand volunteers help the SES

During the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, volunteer civil and fire protection units have become an important chain of assistance for rescuers. They are involved in providing assistance in hard-to-reach places where it is sometimes difficult for employees of the State Emergency Service (SES) to reach. Viktor Vitovetskyi, Director of the Department for Organization of Civil Protection Measures of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, said this during a briefing.

Today, the SES has more than 70,000 employees and more than 900 units. However, even with such a large network, not all areas can be covered in a timely manner.

"There are areas in Ukraine where SES rescuers can only reach in 40-50 minutes, and the distances are up to 50 kilometers. This situation is unacceptable, as the circumstances at the scene may deteriorate during this time. That is why local and voluntary fire protection units are being formed on the ground," said Vitovetskyi.

Currently, about 7,000 volunteers are involved in voluntary civil defense units in Ukraine.

"There were many people who expressed a desire to help, so local governments and authorities created such voluntary groups. Their activities are to perform tasks that do not require special training, but require a lot of work," Vitovetsky said.

These tasks include the destruction of buildings and infrastructure, restoration of conditions in bomb shelters, etc. The scope of volunteers' activities is significantly expanding, and they help in many aspects, from the disposal of ammunition to creating comfortable conditions in bomb shelters.

A special platform has been created for volunteers on the SES website, where everyone can register and provide assistance in the areas where they live.

"More than 16,000 profiles of citizens willing to help in the field of civil protection were registered through the SES website. In addition, more than 5,000 applications from those wishing to join volunteer fire brigades were registered there. These applications are passed on to local governments, and citizens are recruited to the voluntary units," explained Vitovetskyi.

Volunteer fire departments help to get to the scene of an emergency faster and reduce the amount of damage, save lives, etc.

Legislation is currently being amended so that volunteers can work in the emergency zone after undergoing appropriate training or instruction. The SES has developed and distributed relevant instructions, which were passed on to districts and communities.

The SESU also worked with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to define the status of volunteers, their rights and obligations, and benefits.

Significant support is provided by foreign partners, such as the USAID Hoverla program, the Polish International Solidarity Fund, and the United Nations Development Program in Ukraine. They provide assistance at the government and community levels.

"We are currently training our volunteers in Poland. The third group of 15 people is studying in Poland, and such trips are planned regularly. This will help to study the experience of Poland and promote the development of a voluntary movement at the community level," added Mr. Vitovetskyi.

In particular, the UN provided funds for the purchase of special equipment for the volunteer groups at the beginning of the invasion.