NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 13

territory in Ukraine and removed more than 70,000 pieces
of ordnance. Unfortunately, the work to clear our territory of
mines will go on for a very long time.
Finally, our units provide assistance to citizens, providing
them with water and food supplies, even in the dangerous
regions.
What toll has this all taken on responders? What are their
daily lives like?
The occupiers, in spite of international law and conventions,
hit and shell our rescuers and destroy SES buildings and
vehicles. Despite the very difficult situation and constant
shelling, our rescuers work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Even though they are not at the forefront of military action,
they are under constant threat of attack. All the work they do
is done under constant danger to their lives. But our rescuers
have resilience and are always ready to fulfill their task.
I've been told that Russian troops have specifically
targeted Ukraine's emergency responders. Have your
personnel been intentionally targeted as they work?
All of the 33 rescuers, in the moment they were killed, were
fulfilling their assigned task. They died from shelling and
bullets. This includes rescuers who died doing the work of
demining. We have no doubts about saying that these staff
members were murdered.
Fire stations, trucks, and many other pieces of equipment
have been destroyed. How do those losses affect your
ability to conduct rescue and fire operations?
In total, 123 fire stations have been destroyed due to the
Russian invasion. More than 300 fire vehicles have been
completely or partially damaged. These losses have had a
negative impact on our ability to fulfill our tasks. We continue
to do our work regardless, but we need support from
our international partners. We very much hope for this
support.
What are your biggest needs right now?
Our priority needs are vehicles for the demining units. We
also need equipment such as helmets and bulletproof vests
for outfitting our demining units. In addition, due to active
engagement of our units, we have a priority need for firefighter
protective clothes, and we very much need fire trucks.
Because of the constant threat that the Russian Federation
will use chemical weapons on Ukraine, we have an urgent
need for breathing and eye protection. We need newer equipment
for monitoring chemical weapons use.
I've read that hundreds of people across the country have
volunteered to help SES. How many personnel do you
have today, compared to the start of the war?
Today the staff for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine
stands at around 60,000 rescuers. In addition, during the
last two weeks more than 10,000 volunteers have shown
their desires to help us do this work. And we are working to
increase the number of demining units.
NFPA .ORG/JOURNAL * NFPA JOURNAL | 13
" THE OCCUPIERS, IN SPITE
OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
AND CONVENTIONS, HIT AND
SHELL OUR RESCUERS AND
DESTROY SES BUILDINGS AND
VEHICLES. ALL OF THE WORK
OUR RESCUERS DO IS DONE
UNDER CONSTANT DANGER TO
THEIR LIVES. "
http://nfpa.org/journal
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - Summer 2022
