Kharkiv, 11 September 2025 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Korea, has delivered equipment worth US$447,000 (over UAH 18 million) to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) in Kharkiv Oblast.

Facing shelling and extensive landmine contamination, this poses heightened risks both to residents and to emergency responders in Kharkiv Oblast. To reinforce the SES’s capacity for faster and more effective responses, UNDP and Korea have provided a range of technical equipment.

The package of support includes a fire-fighting robot, a backhoe loader with additional attachments, drones, training simulators and equipment, power saws, and a set of pneumatic lifting cushions. The fire-fighting robot can extinguish fires, transport gear, and conduct monitoring in hazardous environments, reducing risks for rescuers. The backhoe loader allows for the rapid removal of rubble, provides access to people trapped beneath it, and makes it possible to carry out engineering tasks that would be unsafe or impossible to perform manually.

The equipment forms part of broader support provided by UNDP and the Government of Korea to communities under the strain of the war. This cooperation aims to strengthen the technical capacity of emergency services, improve safety for personnel, and create conditions for long-term recovery.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Ukraine, Mr. Park Kichang, stressed the importance and effectiveness of providing such equipment . “I believe that, for a country at war, this assistance goes beyond providing mere emergency aid,” he noted. “I hope this support will help meet the urgent needs of the Ukrainian people and contribute to Ukraine’s long-term development.”

UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, Mr. Auke Lootsma, highlighted that supporting emergency responders is a key element of UNDP’s broader community security strategy. “This equipment enables rescuers to act more swiftly and effectively,” he said. “Every cleared site represents not only lives saved, which is invaluable, but also the first step in rebuilding communities. Our approach is centred on the needs and priorities of both communities and the security providers with whom we work.”

Media enquiries
Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications, UNDP in Ukraine, yuliia.samus@undp.org