Ukraine's 112 celebrates 2 years of saving lives and responding fast
Photo: how the 112 emergency service works in Ukraine (mvs.gov.ua)
The 112 emergency service has been operating in Ukraine for two years. During this time, over 7 million calls have been handled, according to Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko.
Klymenko emphasized that calls to the emergency service are "real human stories."
He shared, for example, how one man called the service after deciding to say goodbye to life. The minister explained that the operator spoke with him for more than an hour, calmed him down, summoned specialists, and thanks to this, his life was saved.
He also recounted another case involving a call from a 12-year-old girl.
"There was a gas leak in the apartment, and her mother lost consciousness. A calm, clear conversation with the operator, proper instructions, a quick response, and a tragedy was avoided," he noted.
How the 112 service works in Ukraine
According to the minister, the unified rescue service accepts not only voice calls but also calls in sign language via video communication. Over the past two years, more than 31,000 such calls have been recorded.
Additionally, Klymenko noted that nearly 700 calls came from foreigners. The emergency service processes calls not only in the state language but also in foreign languages: English, Polish, Spanish, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Korean, Japanese, French, Georgian, German, and Chinese.
112 service as a new opportunity for veterans
"Our veterans, who, due to injuries or health loss, can no longer serve, can join the 112 team. Already, 17 defenders have become line operators," Klymenko said.
He explained that the experience, resilience, and sense of responsibility of Ukrainian veterans are invaluable to the service, where every second counts.
The 112 centers are currently located in Kyiv, Lviv, and Dnipro, but they are expanding, and a center is expected to open soon in Odesa.
"We are building a system in which everyone can be confident that help will arrive on time. 112 is about trust. About responsibility. And about people who won't let you down," the minister concluded.
It's worth noting that calling all emergency services through a single number 112 ensures accessibility, convenience, and comprehensive assistance for citizens, which is especially important amid the current security challenges.
The "112 system" provides comprehensive assistance to the population in the event of emergencies that pose threats to health, life, property, the natural environment, or public order.
Ukrainians with hearing impairments can also contact the 112 service.
