Switzerland donates 30 rubble-clearing machines, 30 fire pumps to Ukraine

MOSCOW. Nov 2 (Interfax) - Switzerland has donated equipment worth 5.6 million Swiss francs (around $6.4 million) to Ukraine, which includes 30 machines for clearing debris and rubble and 30 water pumps for firefighting.

Six of such rubble-clearing machines have been handed to water supply companies and the rest to the Ukrainian State Emergency Service.

"This donation will be forwarded to regions tomorrow, where they will start working," Ukrainian media quoted State Emergency Service chief Andrei Danik as saying at a handover ceremony on Friday.

The equipment was provided by the Swiss Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), and its transportation was financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) under the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). To minimize an impact on the environment, the equipment was transported by rail.

Swiss Ambassador to Ukraine Felix Baumann said his country would continue to support the Ukrainian State Emergency Service.

Switzerland had previously donated similar equipment to the Ukrainian State Emergency Service in October 2022.