The Ministry of Internal Affairs will replenish its aircraft fleet by 55 helicopters, produced by the company “Airbus Helicopters”. They will form the basis of the MIA modern mobile helicopter service.

Today, on March 23, 2018, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France signed a Declaration of Intention to Develop Bilateral Cooperation. The document was signed by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov and the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Yves Le Drian.

“This is the largest project between Ukraine and France.  This is a very large structural project for our country, and we have the full support of the President Petro Poroshenko and the Prime Minister Vladimir Groisman.  During this year Ukraine expects to receive four helicopters that will perform rescue and medical tasks”, – stressed Arsen Avakov.

Helicopters produced in France will be used in the operations of the State Emergency Service, the National Guard, the National Police and the State Border Guard Service.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to receive three types of helicopters – H145, H125, and H225:   

• Seven Н225 type helicopters – for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine;
• Ten H145 type helicopters and one Н225 type helicopter – for the National Police of Ukraine;
• Twelve Н225 type helicopters – for the National Guard of Ukraine;   
• Twenty-four Н125 type helicopters and one Н225 type helicopter – for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

The mobile helicopter service will perform tasks mainly in the following areas:

• rescue operations;
• maintenance of public order;
• criminal investigations;
• anti-terrorist and special missions;
• protection of the state border
• road safety monitoring.

Arsen Avakov also informed that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine is planning shortly to sign an agreement with relevant French authorities on the mutual recognition of driving licenses, and is already working closely with their French counterparts in the field of combating organized crime.  The Ukrainian side expressed its gratitude to France for systematic support in the fight against the Russian aggressor.

The Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Yves Le Drian assured the Ukrainian side that official Paris is ready to support our state not only in matters of internal reform but also in restoring peace.

“France strongly supports Ukraine and is committed to supporting the integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, as well as to cooperate in the economic sphere, which can be useful for both sides”, – stated Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Reference information:

Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter Group) is a Franco-German company that produces some of the best helicopters in the world.

The type H125 helicopter exceeds other single-engine helicopters by productivity and versatility, it does not require complicated service and demonstrates high performance in the highlands.

The type H145 helicopter has a high degree of availability and operational flexibility, especially in hot climates and highlands.

The H225 type helicopter offers a high speed, range, payload and reliability in an 11-tonne-category twin-turbine rotorcraft.