Ukrainian rescuers return home after unique mission in EU
Ukrainian firefighters participated in the first mission by the Ukrainian State Emergency Service under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (photo: t.me/dsns_telegram)
Ukrainian firefighters return from France after nearly two weeks of helping to battle massive wildfires, Ukraine's Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivskyi reports.
Outcomes of Ukrainian unit's efforts
The combined unit of the State Emergency Service consisted of 70 rescuers and 15 specialized vehicles.
Over nearly two weeks, the Ukrainian team carried out dozens of deployments and surveyed hundreds of hectares of land.
In particular, the firefighters patrolled forested areas, detected fire hotspots smoldering underground, used drones to identify new fires, and worked alongside colleagues from France, Slovakia, and other countries to contain the spread of the flames.
Ukrainian rescuers return from #France after firefighting mission
— RBC-Ukraine (@NewsUkraineRBC) August 15, 2026
Seventy rescuers and 15 vehicles spent nearly two weeks helping their French and Slovak colleagues battle massive wildfires.
This was the first mission by the Ukrainian State Emergency Service to assist an #EU… pic.twitter.com/qG7JwEtl6U
This mission gave the Ukrainians an opportunity to share their unique experience gained during the full-scale war.
The work of the Ukrainian specialists was highly praised by French authorities and local residents.
Ukrainian rescuers wrap up unique mission in an EU country (photo: t.me/dsns_telegram)
Ukrainian rescuers wrap up unique mission in an EU country (photo: t.me/dsns_telegram)
Ukrainian rescuers wrap up unique mission in an EU country (photo: t.me/dsns_telegram)
Helping partners despite challenges of war
Despite the fact that Ukrainian emergency responders are dispatched every day to deal with the aftermath of Russian attacks and work in extremely difficult conditions, Ukraine remains ready to support its international partners.
The coordinated operation in France once again demonstrated that Ukraine's State Emergency Service is one of the most effective rescue services in Europe.
First mission under EU Civil Protection Mechanism
This operation was the first mission by a Ukrainian team to assist an EU member state under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
Ukrainian specialists have previously taken part in disaster response operations abroad.
In particular, Ukrainian rescuers helped fight wildfires in Turkey and Greece and assisted with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in Turkey.
Helping France fight wildfires
As previously reported, a Ukrainian State Emergency Service task force was deployed to the Gironde department in France to help battle a massive wildfire.
At the time, the fire had engulfed more than 42,000 hectares, and the Ukrainian team was the largest of all foreign contingents involved in the operation.
Before that, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to help France battle the disaster and discussed the details of the assistance with his French counterpart.
