Japan has provided the State Emergency Service with demining equipment and equipment for sappers
This was reported by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.
The equipment was purchased by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The State Emergency Service received four pyrotechnic vehicles, 12 minibuses for transporting personnel, and 100 sets of protective equipment for female deminers.
The ceremony to hand over the equipment was attended by Masashi Nakagome, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine, Ihor Bezkaravaynyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, Bohdan Drapyaty, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Head of the State Emergency Service Andriy Danik, Chief Representative of JICA in Ukraine Osamu Hattori, and Senior Director of the JICA Peacebuilding Office Ayako Oi.
According to Ihor Bezkaravaynyi, some of the equipment transferred was manufactured in Ukraine or localised by Ukrainian manufacturers.
“Japan is one of the first countries to support the ‘Made in Ukraine’ initiative in the field of humanitarian demining. The equipment presented here today is either entirely manufactured in Ukraine, such as protective equipment, or partially localised. This is important not only in terms of humanitarian demining and supporting the capabilities of the State Emergency Service, but also for our economy. This is an order for our production, it provides jobs, it generates taxes, and our economy becomes stronger," he said.
Pyrotechnic machines are used by sappers to remove and transport unexploded ordnance directly from the site where it was found.
The minibuses, in turn, will increase the mobility of operational teams during demining tasks.
The official also noted the purchase of 100 sets of protective equipment for female sappers.
"This initiative is the result of the work of the Gender Aspects in Mine Action group, coordinated by the Ministry of Economy, the Canadian Embassy and the FSD. It is a practical consideration of the gender component in humanitarian demining. I would like to thank the Japanese government for supporting this request from the State Emergency Service," added Bezkaravayny.
According to the government, Japan's contribution to humanitarian demining in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion has exceeded $130 million.
A significant part of this funding is directed specifically towards the purchase of equipment and machinery for mine action.
