During a working trip to the Kyiv region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the SES of Ukraine employees who were involved in extinguishing a large-scale forest fire in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. He presented state awards to 22 rescuers.
Before that, Volodymyr Zelenskyy flew on the helicopter over the area damaged by the fire.
“We are grateful for your great work. Now, in the altitude of a helicopter, we have seen the true result of your work. You are heroes for us,” the Head of State said, addressing rescuers.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the fire had destroyed a large area of forest - more than eleven thousand hectares.
“Only there, at a height, you understand how difficult your profession is. I am grateful to you for the result on behalf of the entire Ukrainian people,” the President said.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also thanked the rescuers for their feat.
"Addressing you, we extend our gratitude to all those people - today, over a thousand people work to eliminate the fire. To everyone who is standing with you shoulder to shoulder and doing this work,” Denys Shmyhal emphasized.
Minister of the Interior Arsen Avakov, Acting Minister of Energy and Environment Protection Olha Buslavets and Head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine Mykola Chechotkin briefed the Head of State on the progress of the elimination of the fire.
