KYIV – Japan and the U.N. Development Program recently supplied 15 sets of protective suits and helmets to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service to support the clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance.
The U.S.-made suits, weighing approximately 38 kilograms and costing about $25,000 each, provide full-body protection against blasts, heat and impact.
Around 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory is at risk of contamination by explosive remnants including landmines and unexploded ordnance, posing a significant barrier to reconstruction, according to the UNDP.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service has already disposed of more than 73,000 explosive remnants this year.
Featuring lighting and ventilation systems, the suits are designed for long hours of work in harsh conditions.
Ten personnel of the State Emergency Service participated in training sessions from Tuesday through Friday on how to use the suits, with the deputy head of the agency, Roman Prymush, expressing gratitude to Japan for helping protect its workers’ lives.
In October, Japan hosted the Ukraine Mine Action Conference in Tokyo, at which the country offered to train demining personnel and help improve medical and welfare services for victims as part of measures to support the war-torn state’s recovery and reconstruction.
Tokyo and Kyiv on Tuesday signed an aid package worth 4 billion yen ($26 million) as part of international efforts to clear land mines in Ukraine, aiming to provide necessary equipment, materials and medical support.
AloJapan.com