International exercises of volunteers of the rapid response units of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) are taking place in Kyiv region.

"The exercises take place once a year. This is the tenth time we have held them, and therefore the slogan of the current one is ten years together. Representatives of our detachments from all over Ukraine have gathered here," Taras Lohinov, head of the emergency response service of the URCS, told Interfax-Ukraine on Friday.

Photo - Olena Savchenko

According to him, there are currently 22 rapid response units in the Ukrainian Red Cross, in addition, small teams of volunteers work in most areas.

"In total, we have about 600 people in the rapid response units and more than a hundred units of transport. It is not difficult to perform even the most difficult tasks with these people, they are all very motivated and want to work. My task is only to coordinate, although it sometimes takes almost all 24 hours of the day," Lohinov said.

Photo - Olena Savchenko

The head of the response service said that the detachments leave for the places of liquidation of the consequences of emergencies and shelling after confirmation by the State Emergency Service.

"We have groups on duty at night. They work a little differently in different regions. If the State Emergency Service believes that we are needed, then we go to the place. Even if the windows in the high-rise building are blown out, then we are definitely going. We deploy the heating station in winter, and we help people," Lohinov noted.

Photo - Olena Savchenko

He also stressed that in addition to sharing experience and gaining new knowledge, the advantage of the exercises is that their participants, who often work under life-threatening shelling, for example in Sumy, Mykoliav, Kherson, undergo a kind of rehabilitation on the island where their tent camp is located. "And this is very important for them, because spending a few days here is a charge of energy for the whole year," Lohinov noted.

Photo - Olena Savchenko

Representatives of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and government agencies are also taking part in the exercises.