Support to Ukraine’s rescue services

The Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency has been supporting the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) since 2022. The war and its consequences place high demands on both personnel and the organization. Rescue services are often the first to arrive at the scene after an attack and are responsible for the search and rescue operations.

This work involves significant risks. Russia has on multiple occasions targeted rescue personnel through so-called “double-tap” attacks. These attacks involve an initial strike intended to draw rescue workers to the scene, followed by a second strike on the same location while response operations are ongoing.

Support to rescue services in 2026">Support to rescue services in 2026

In 2026, support to the rescue services amounts to SEK 312.5 million. The funding is provided by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and the Swedish Ministry of Defence. The support is primarily directed to SESU, which has a similar mandate to the Swedish Civil Defence Agency but also includes Ukraine’s rescue services.

CBRN: Training and material

Ukraine’s rescue services require a high level of capability to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents. This includes incidents resulting from the potential use of CBRN weapons, and attacks on industrial facilities or infrastructure that could lead to the release of hazardous substances.

Between 2025 and 2027, the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency is implementing a project aimed at strengthening this capability through training, capacity-building, and material support.

Integration into the EU Civil Protection Mechanism

In addition to winning the war, EU membership is one of Ukraine’s key political priorities. Within the field of civil protection, EU membership requires full integration into the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).

The UCPM is a framework for the rapid coordination of assistance in major disasters and crises when national resources are insufficient. Ukraine is currently a recipient of support through the UCPM, but it has also contributed as a partner country, including by providing assistance following the earthquake in Türkiye and the floods in Slovenia in 2023.

The support from the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency includes training, advisory services, and capacity-building to help Ukraine meet UCPM requirements. This includes development and support for certification in accordance with EU quality requirements and technical standards. The agency also strengthens Ukraine’s capacity to receive and coordinate incoming assistance.

Material support to rescue services

Through the UCPM, Ukraine identifies its needs for material donations from other countries. In addition to support provided within specific projects, the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency uses these lists to address Ukraine’s needs.

In 2026, this support is planned to include, among other things, vehicles and systems for mobile logistics support, with a focus on maintenance and repair of vehicles and boats.
The support is coordinated with other countries to reduce the risk of duplicate donations. The Agency works closely with the other Nordic countries, which are also key partners to Ukraine’s rescue services.

Donation of boats for mine clearance in waterways

Dam breaches, downed drones, and spring floods have significantly increased the presence of hazardous objects in rivers, driving the need for waterway mine clearance.

In 2026, the Swedish Civil Defence Agency will procure and donate several boats to SESU. These boats will enhance the rescue services’ capacity to save lives and conduct mine clearance operations in rivers and waterways.

In preparation of the donation, SESU personnel also received training in Sweden. The purpose of the training was to ensure continuing operation and maintenance of the boats.

Rescue services in wartime – exchange of experience with Swedish rescue services

The experience gained by Ukraine’s rescue services during an ongoing armed conflict is of great value for the development of Sweden’s civil defence.

Ongoing cooperation between Swedish and Ukrainian rescue services contributes to capturing and applying lessons learned from rescue operations conducted under wartime conditions and prolonged high operational pressure.
Firefighters and personnel from rescue services across Sweden takes part in exchanges and joint activities. Through direct engagement and collaboration, conditions are created for effective knowledge transfer that is relevant to both Ukrainian and Swedish needs.

In 2026, efforts focus on sharing experience in areas such as search and rescue, while also contributing to strengthening Ukraine’s capabilities in this area through targeted support where needed.