OSCE Project Co-ordinator donates equipment to help Ukraine eliminate remnants of war

KYIV, 12 October, 2011 – The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (PCU) handed over 13 modern metal detectors to the Emergency Situations Ministry at a ceremony in Kyiv today.

This is the last batch of metal detectors donated to the Ministry as part of a two-year PCU project to assist Ukraine with the elimination of explosive remnants of war near the cities of Kerch, Sevastopol and Bila Tserkva.

“The ferrous locators that we are donating today have a maximum detection depth of six metres,” said Ambassador Lubomir Kopaj, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine. “This modern equipment will help pyrotechnic specialists to detect dangerous unexploded ordnance left in Ukraine from past wars and clear the still contaminated areas in a safe and effective way, thus preventing casualties among the local populations.”

Grigoriy Marchenko, the Director of the Rescue Forces Department of the Emergency Situations Ministry of Ukraine, said that on average 40 civilians fall victim to explosive remnants of war each year. “The equipment received from the OSCE will help reduce this number in the future,” he added.

The PCU has already donated 111 sets of bullet-proof vests and helmets to the Minisitry. This protective equipment is now being used to ensure safety of the Ministry’s pyrotechnic specialists when clearing areas containing explosive remnants of war. These donations were funded by Denmark, Germany, Ireland and the United States of America.