Safety, Protection, and Security (SPS)

Ukrainian first responders are among the most visible symbols of resilience. Alongside their regular duties, they now support civil protection activities, evacuation efforts, and demining operations. While their wartime mandate is expanding, they continue to face critical shortages of equipment and inadequate training facilities, limiting their ability to respond effectively to emergencies.

The SPS Strategic Project collaborates with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU), National Police of Ukraine (NPU), State Special Transport Service (SSTS), local municipal and volunteer first responders, and local governments.

By engaging with first responder units at the national, oblast, and local levels, PFRU aims to improve their capacity to work more effectively.

With well-equipped and well-trained personnel, PFRU contributes to creating durable first responder organisations capable of responding quickly to emergencies.

The SPS project strengthens public confidence in the state by improving safety and security in Ukraine’s most vulnerable frontline and border communities. It enhances the operational capacity of key actors – such as SESU, NPU, and demining agencies – through targeted training, provision of equipment, and infrastructure upgrades.

Empowering Community-Driven Security

This workstream places residents at the centre of community security planning to foster trust in 14 war-affected hromadas across eight oblasts.

PFRU awards grants to civil society organisations (CSOs) to facilitate dialogue sessions between residents, local police, emergency services, and local government.

These sessions identify security priorities and co-develop Community Security Action Plans (CAPs).

Once consensus is reached, the CAP is submitted to local government for approval, giving residents a voice in shaping security priorities during wartime.

PFRU supports the implementation of specific community priorities within CAPs, turning plans into action.

Improving Community Policing

Police officers in frontline and border hromadas are often under-equipped and overstretched.

This workstream focuses on Territorial Community Police Officers (TCPOs) and Patrol Police units by providing equipment and specialised training to enhance their effectiveness.

Additionally, PFRU supports the expansion of the Educational Security Service (ESS) Officer initiative by supplying equipment and training materials.

ESS Officers deliver civil protection training and conflict mediation in schools, reaching hundreds of students with safety sessions.

Strengthening Emergency Response Capacity

Recognising that SESU State Fire and Rescue Service units are overstretched due to the high volume of emergency calls they must respond to, PFRU has expanded its support to include local municipal and volunteer firefighting brigades.

This assistance includes the procurement and transfer of rescue and firefighting equipment and vehicles.

PFRU also provides specialised trainings and repairs structures used by first responders to improve their operational effectiveness.

This workstream also supports local civil protection units and volunteer groups that frequently assist first responders in their work.

Supporting Humanitarian Demining Efforts

Humanitarian demining operations are underway across Ukraine.

SSTS and SESU are the two leading institutions working to clear and release contaminated land so that it can be returned for public use.

This workstream provides specialised demining equipment to demining teams and trains the next generation of SESU demining instructors in Explosive Ordnance Disposal techniques compliant with UN-recognised International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).

PFRU also collaborates with the Centre for Humanitarian Demining (CHD) and the Ministry of Economy to identify innovative ways to map and prioritise land clearance.

Enhancing Security Education and Training

This workstream strengthens the education and training capacity of key MOIA training academies, including Patrol Police Academies, State Universities of Internal Affairs, and SESU firefighting schools.

These institutions are critical for preparing SESU and NPU personnel for the challenges that they will experience working in frontline and border communities.

Several of the institutions that PFRU works with have relocated from eastern oblasts and now operate in temporary locations with severe resource constraints.

PFRU prioritises practical training in first aid and crisis response, while procuring essential equipment such as IT equipment, first aid kits, protective gear, and specialised training tools.