Ukraine Completes Construction of 10 New Emergency Rescue Centers

Emergency Rescue Units Fully Established

According to ДСНС: Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has announced the full establishment of 10 centrally managed emergency rescue units under the State Emergency Service (SES) as part of the 2026 Resilience Plan. All units are now operational, with each center assigned a specific specialization and area of responsibility to enhance response effectiveness during emergencies. This initiative reflects Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to modernize its civil protection infrastructure amid heightened security and disaster risks.

Specialized Rapid Response Centers

The main mobile rapid rescue center is based in Kyiv, housing a specialized unit for high-complexity pyrotechnic operations called 'SIGMA.' The Odesa mobile rescue center focuses on emergency rescue and demining in maritime areas, ports, and coastal zones. The Lviv mobile rescue center handles mountain rescue operations and flood response.

• The Sumy mobile rescue center specializes in radiation, chemical, and biological protection, as well as search operations with canine units.
• The Donetsk-Luhansk mobile rescue center operates near the front line, conducting evacuation measures.
• The Interregional Humanitarian Demining Center focuses on clearing explosive ordnance and ensuring quality control of demining activities.

Additional units include a special aviation detachment featuring the 'DELTA' rapid response core, and an interregional center for rapid response on water bodies, handling rescue and pyrotechnic operations at sea and inland waters. A mobile rapid response center for unmanned systems specializes in aerial reconnaissance and robotic systems, while a logistics rapid response center ensures timely delivery of equipment, supplies, and international aid to SES units.

“Together with SES Head Andriy Danyk, we inspected the readiness of specialized equipment and gear at one of the rapid response centers. But the key element is the personnel serving here. Their professional training, experience, and readiness to act in critical moments determine the effectiveness of the entire response system. Such units are shaping a new civil protection architecture for Ukraine-modern, mobile, and prepared for any challenge.” - Ihor Klymenko

The completion of these new emergency rescue units marks a significant step in strengthening Ukraine’s civil protection system, especially given the current challenges facing the country. Each center’s specialization enables rapid responses to a wide range of emergencies, boosting overall regional safety. Professional training and the readiness of rescuers to operate under critical conditions are pivotal to response efficiency, underscoring the importance of continued investment in personnel development and technical resources for the SES.

In light of these advancements, it is crucial to understand how Ukraine's emergency services are preparing for real-world scenarios. Recently, major rescue and demining exercises were conducted, demonstrating the effectiveness of these newly established units in responding to various emergencies and enhancing public safety across the nation.