Ukraine to get four French helicopters for rescue operations by year-end

Ukraine's Minister of Interior Affairs Arsen Avakov has announced that four helicopters of French-based Airbus Helicopters will arrive in Ukraine at the end of 2018.

The first four helicopters from French-based Airbus Helicopters will arrive in Ukraine for the ministry's needs. In particular, three helicopters will be used by the State Emergency Situations Service. These are specially equipped helicopters for aeromedical evacuation, rescue and fire prevention operations, he said during a working visit to Chernihiv region on September 25, the ministry said on Facebook.

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Another H225 helicopter will be serving in the air division of the National Guard of Ukraine.

"Here, in the town of Nizhyn [Chernihiv region, northern Ukraine], there will be the maintenance center of the ministry's aviation security system. The helicopters will be used by the emergency service, border guards, the National Guard, and police. They are equipped with all kinds of special equipment, video surveillance systems, landing aids and so on. This is a new level of our professional work. When something happens that requires joint work, and all helicopters of the ministry will be sent to one place... The specifics of our work are changing here. We are getting into the world of new technologies," he said.

The minister also got acquainted with the work of a special aviation detachment of the civil rescue service.

Moreover, the ministry noted that the Nizhyn-based special aviation detachment of the civil rescue service is waiting for the arrival of French H225 helicopters and special medical helicopters, which will be used for providing emergency medical services.

Four hangar facilities are to be built to service the helicopters.

In addition, the aviation detachment of the State Emergency Situations Service plans to expand its capabilities, speeding up the response to all types of accidents and intensifying patrolling by helicopters based at Nizhyn Airfield. The helicopters can also be based at Kyiv International Airport (Zhulyany).

The State Emergency Situations Service hopes that after the helicopter fleet expands, Ukrainian rescuers will be able to carry out enhanced rescue operations in the south of Ukraine and will be engaged in search operations at sea.

Ukrainian helicopter pilots will undergo training in France.

As was reported, following an intergovernmental agreement signed between France and Ukraine on June 8, Airbus Helicopters signed a contract with the Ukrainian Interior Ministry for the supply of 55 civil helicopters destined for search and rescue, public services, and emergency medical service missions in the country. The 55 aircraft include 21 repurposed H225s, and 10 brand new H145s and 24 H125.