Germany helps Ukraine with firefighting robots

Germany is supporting Ukraine with remotely controlled firefighting robots to combat fires following Russian attacks, according to Development Minister Svenja Schulze.

During her visit to Kiev, Schulze had the devices demonstrated to her at a fire station. “The fire brigade has received additional support from us,” said Schulze.

The robots could assist with extinguishing fires without rescue forces having to expose themselves to the danger of secondary strikes, she said.

Schulze explained that the insidious aspect of the Russian strategy is that when firefighters arrive to extinguish a fire, the site is targeted a second time. She noted that as many men in Ukraine are fighting at the front, disaster relief increasingly falls to women, for whom the devices are also a relief.

Oliver Rasche from the company Alpha Robotics said: “It is possible to start firefighting without putting the emergency services in danger.”

So far, six or seven of these robots have been deployed in Ukraine according to reports.

The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has, according to its own information, financed the equipment and training of the operators.