Ukrainian rescuers return from France after nearly two weeks battling massive wildfires
During their deployment in France, Ukrainian rescuers:
"Dozens of emergency responses, hundreds of hectares surveyed, and fire hotspots that continued to smolder underground. Ukrainian rescuers patrolled forest areas, used UAVs to detect new fires, and worked together with their colleagues to contain the flames," said Ukrainian Internal Minister Ivan Vyhivskyi.
According to the minister, the mission was not only an opportunity to work alongside French, Slovak, and other European rescuers, but also to exchange professional expertise and share Ukraine's experience.
"Different languages, but the same profession and goal: to stop the fire and protect people. For Ukrainians, this mission was an opportunity to share their unique experience gained during the full-scale war," Vyhivskyi emphasized.
The minister stressed that Ukrainian rescuers work in extremely challenging conditions every day, dealing with the aftermath of Russian attacks. Despite the war, however, Ukraine continues to support its partners.
"Every day, our rescuers respond dozens of times to deal with the aftermath of Russian attacks and work in extremely challenging conditions. But despite these challenges, we are always ready to support our partners," the minister said.
French authorities highly praised the work of the Ukrainian specialists, while local residents expressed their gratitude to the rescuers.
"The high praise for the work of our specialists from the leadership of the French Republic, along with the numerous expressions of gratitude from local residents, once again confirms that Ukraine's State Emergency Service is one of the most effective emergency services in Europe," Vyhivskyi concluded.
It will be recalled that on July 31, at the instruction of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, a joint unit of the State Emergency Service comprising 70 rescuers and 15 pieces of specialized equipment was deployed to France.
For the first time, Ukraine participated in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism as a country providing assistance.
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16 of August 2026
