Experts of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme have been comprehensively working with Ukrainian municipalities to improve their security capabilities over a long period of time. Local self-government officials receive training and advice on creating safe spaces and environments.
One of these events involved the establishment of voluntary civil defence units (VCDUs) in municipalities. In the course of the information session, U-LEAD experts explained the functions of such civil defence units and the role of local self-government bodies in this process.
“Today, the security issue comes first in our country, so we cooperate with the experts of municipalities to raise their awareness in this area. Establishing voluntary civil defence units is an important and effective tool in the implementation of the security powers of local self-government bodies,” emphasised Oleh Ilnytskyi, head of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme’s Regional Office in Mykolaiv Oblast and moderator of this event.
The expert reviewed the civil defence arrangements in municipalities and talked about the coordination of the voluntary units activity together with the commission on technogenic and environmental safety and emergencies.
Municipalities focus most on the work of the civil defence fire service. According to the expert, this area can be handled by state fire and rescue services, local fire brigades, voluntary fire brigades at enterprises or the VCDUs. Such units and fire safety organisations are regulated by Article 22 of the Civil Defence Code of Ukraine.
"Sometimes we face a situation where a state fire and rescue unit operating within one municipality serves several others. Such units perform their tasks, but we realise that due to the remoteness of the territories, it takes longer for the relevant service to arrive and operate. Some municipalities are not financially capable to establish a local fire service. In this case, it’s worth considering the formation of voluntary civil defence units aimed to assist other services," said Oleh Ilnytskyi.
Dmytro Fokasiyev, decentralisation and local self-government adviser of the U-LEAD Office in Kharkiv Oblast, introduced the legal framework regulating civil defence issues:
"A voluntary civil defence unit is a temporary voluntary group of citizens formed in the event of an emergency threat or occurrence to perform auxiliary work."
The main tasks of voluntary civil defence units are as follows
- providing assistance to the affected citizens in the priority measures to clear the scene of the incident;
- superficial rubble removal, clearing of traffic routes for vehicles (subject to availability of necessary equipment and safe conditions);
- taking measures to support the victims (setting up temporary accommodation centres, delivering water, food, medicines, taking care of the sick and elderly);
- providing assistance to the rescuers in organising their life support for the period of rescue operations;
- collecting evidence of the location of people in the emergency area (eyewitness interviews);
- implementing measures to ensure public security (fencing of dangerous areas and sites, protecting territories, emergency zones, preventing unauthorised persons, conducting emergency and other urgent works, etc.)
According to Part 3 of Art. 27 of the Civil Defence Code of Ukraine, citizens may join voluntary civil defence units on a voluntary basis.
"Participants of the VCDUs are entitled to receive information about the emergency situation and the necessary security measures. This also applies to the complete provision of individual protective equipment to team members. Moreover, members of voluntary units are entitled to healthcare and medical and psychological rehabilitation in case of suffering physical and psychological injuries while performing certain tasks. They are also entitled to reimbursement for damage caused to their lives and health while performing tasks to prevent and eliminate the emergency consequences," explained Dmytro Fokasiyev.
Andriy Ryabukha, decentralisation and local self-government adviser of the U-LEAD with Europe Regional Office in Donetsk Oblast, stressed that according to the Civil Defence Code, namely Part 1 of Article 27, the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, central executive authority, local state administration and local self-government body have the right to form voluntary civil defence units. In accordance with Part 1 of Article 36-1 of the Law of Ukraine "On Local Self-Government in Ukraine", the executive committee is authorised to establish voluntary civil defence units.
"Before making a decision to establish a VCDU, it is necessary first to analyse the need for and availability of sufficient resources such as human, logistical and financial. In case of positive responses, the next step is to make a decision on the unit establishment. Then, you can proceed to the appointment of the VCDU chief, whose duties will be voluntary and pro bono, just like the rest of the members of the unit. Local self-government bodies should provide the members with the necessary property as well as protective equipment and tools," the expert advised.
As noted, specialists of the regional offices of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine provide members of the VCDUs with a pro bono instruction on safety measures, rules of conduct, first aid and use of protective equipment. Following the relevant instructional sessions, citizens who are members of voluntary civil defence units receive a certificate of completion of the instruction programme.
The information session participants also learned about the potential sources of funding for voluntary civil defence units. Serhiy Triuda, municipal financial and management adviser of the U-LEAD with Europe Regional Office in Ternopil Oblast, noted that funding for the VCDUs is provided from the local budget, but municipalities may raise additional funds through international and regional grants, charitable donations or donor support. According to the expert, local self-government bodies should provide voluntary units with the necessary property: protective equipment, means of communication, if necessary, premises, vehicles, office equipment and other tools or facilities.
The event attendees learned about good practices of implementing security powers by means of voluntary civil defence units.