MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 21st December, 2018) Ukraine has received the first two out of a total 55 helicopters it purchased from aircraft manufacturer Airbus, which will be used by the country's National Guard and State Emergency Service to patrol the waters of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, along with other areas, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Friday.
On December 10, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said that the Interior Ministry would buy 55 Airbus helicopters, assembled in France and Germany, as part of Ukraine's plans to build the third-biggest helicopter fleet in Europe.
"Ukraine has bought helicopters of the Airbus Helicopters company. We have already received the first batch from our French friends and have passed it on to the Ukrainian National Guard and State Emergency Service. This is a result of our cooperation with our French and German partners. These helicopters will help Ukraine to conduct air reconnaissance, and deliver operational groups and rescuers to mountainous areas, and the waters of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov," Poroshenko said, as broadcast by Ukrainian Channel 5.
He emphasized that the National Guard and rescue teams would mainly use the helicopters for border protection and rescue operations.
Shipments of Airbus helicopters will continue into 2021. The country's emergency agencies, border guards, police, and the National Guard will use the helicopters to patrol borders, put out fires and search for wanted or missing people, according to Avakov. A technical service center will be built in the country, which, Avakov hoped, will enable Ukraine to strengthen its cooperation with the European Union by providing services to European partners.
In early December, Poroshenko introduced martial law in some Ukrainian regions located near the Russian border following the Kerch Strait incident, in which three Ukrainian vessels illegally crossed the Russian maritime border. He also announced that certain Ukrainian air assault units would be redeployed in order to bolster defense at the border.
