Finland sends protective equipment, detector to Ukraine

Finland has for the first time delivered assistance from an EU-fun​ded rescEU stockpile to a country that has requested assistance, said an official government press release.

This week, a truckload of personal protective equipment and chemical detectors was delivered to Ukraine to respond to the needs of the country's rescue services.

The delivery from the rescEU stockpile hosted by Finland included both multiple-use items and items that are for single use for hygiene and safety reasons. Ukraine can use the supplies to respond to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies. Ukraine did not make the request for assistance due to any sudden rise in the CBRN threat level, but to improved.

The EU established two rescEU stockpiles in Finland between 2023 and 2024. Of these, rescEU CBRN provides items for detecting, preventing and protecting people against CBRN threats and hazardous situations, while rescEU Medical provides medical items, medicinal products and devices for measuring the radioactivity of persons and foodstuffs. Medical stockpiles have been created to respond to cross-border health emergencies, such as pandemics.

The rescEU stockpiles are shared strategic reserves funded by the EU. They may be deployed following a European Commission decision when a country's own resources or bilateral offers under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism are insufficient to cope with the situation. The stockpiles are primarily intended for the EU Member States, but they can also be made available to ten other countries, largely the EU’s neighbours such as Ukraine, that also participate in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, or to third countries in exceptional cases. Dispatching items from the rescEU stockpiles requires seamless cooperation between the requesting country, the sending country and the European Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC).

Finland hosts large rescEU stockpiles with a total value of EUR 305 million. The stockpile preparations and procurement are carried out by a consortium under the leadership of the Finnish Ministry of the Interior. The consortium members are the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the National Emergency Supply Agency, and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority. The Ministry of the Interior coordinates the projects managing the rescEU strategic reserves in Finland and is the national competent authority of the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism. The national Emergency supply Agency was responsible for the logistical arrangements of the delivery.