EU transfers 12 bomb disposal dogs to Ukraine

The European Commission gave Kyiv the third group of 12 sapper dogs to clear mines from the territory of Ukraine. This was reported by the representative of the European Commission office in Poland.

The ceremony of handing over the dogs to the Ukrainian side took place on June 14 at the Lososina Dolna airfield near Nowy Sacz in southern Poland.

Thanks to the project of the European Commission, a German shepherd and 11 Belgian shepherds will support the Ukrainian army fighting the Russian invasion. This is the third group of talented animals that save lives thanks to their ability to find and neutralize shells, explosives and radioactive substances, says the European Commission.

Reportedly, this is the third and largest group of dogs trained within the project framework of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs and the Service for EU Foreign Policy Instruments.

Demining dogs are trained in Belgium, Poland, Italy, Malta, Luxembourg and Finland.

In Poland, the dogs underwent a 14-day adaptation course based at Poland’s Carpathian Border Detachment, where Ukrainian dog handlers met their new charges.

It was noted that the estimated budget of this project, which will last until 2025, is 3 million euros. In total, the European Commission will transfer 50 specially trained demining dogs to Ukraine. The first group of nine sapper dogs was transferred to Ukraine in March of last year, the second group of nine dogs – in November of last year.

We remind you that the police of Kyiv region received 11 service dogs trained in the Netherlands.

Earlier, the first classes with Ukrainian dog handlers were held in Spain.