State Emergency Service
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU; Ukrainian: Державна служба України з надзвичайних ситуацій) is the primary central executive body responsible for implementing state policy in civil protection, preventing and responding to emergencies, and ensuring public safety across Ukraine.[1] Established on December 24, 2012, through Presidential Decree No. 726/2012 reorganizing the former Ministry of Emergencies of Ukraine, the SESU operates under the direction of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine via the Ministry of Internal Affairs.[2][3] The SESU's core functions encompass coordinating rescue operations, fire suppression, and mitigation of technogenic and natural disasters, while also overseeing hydrometeorological services and state supervision of compliance with civil protection regulations.[1] It manages a nationwide network of operational-rescue units, including specialized teams for accident response, and supports volunteer formations in emergency preparedness.[1] With a workforce of approximately 70,000 personnel as of 2023, the agency plays a pivotal role in protecting lives, property, and territories from emergencies, such as floods, industrial accidents, and, since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, wartime threats including rubble clearance, unexploded ordnance disposal, civilian evacuations, and humanitarian aid distribution.[4] Organizationally, the SESU is structured around regional directorates, operational centers, and specialized detachments, such as aviation units for aerial firefighting and medical evacuations, enabling rapid deployment across Ukraine's 24 oblasts and the capital.[3] Its legal framework is grounded in Ukraine's Constitution, the Law on the Legal Regime of Emergencies, and international standards for disaster risk reduction, with ongoing modernization efforts supported by partners like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to enhance equipment, training, and resilience, including expanded programs in 2025 for training rescue officers to handle explosive threats.[4][5] The service underscores its critical function in national security and crisis management through responses to thousands of incidents each year.[6]Background
Overview and Role
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU; Ukrainian: Державна служба України з надзвичайних ситуацій) is the central executive body responsible for implementing state policy in the fields of civil protection, rescue operations, fire safety, and emergency prevention across Ukraine.[1] Established on December 24, 2012, by Presidential Decree No. 726/2012 through the reorganization of the former Ministry of Emergencies of Ukraine, the SESU coordinates responses to technogenic, natural, and, since 2022, wartime emergencies, including floods, industrial accidents, rubble clearance, and unexploded ordnance disposal. The SESU's primary roles include protecting the population, territories, and the environment from emergencies; preventing their occurrence; eliminating consequences of accidents; conducting search and rescue; fire suppression; and hydrometeorological activities.[6] It oversees a unified state system of civil protection, managing operational-rescue services, specialized units for chemical, biological, and radiological threats, and aviation detachments for firefighting and evacuations. With approximately 70,000 personnel as of 2022, the agency supports both professional and volunteer responders, responding to over 240,000 incidents annually and playing a key role in national resilience, particularly amid Russia's full-scale invasion.[4]Legal Framework
The legal basis for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine is rooted in the Constitution of Ukraine, which mandates state protection of citizens' lives and health, and key legislation including the Code of Civil Protection of Ukraine (enacted October 2, 2012), which defines civil protection as a state function to safeguard against emergencies through prevention, response, and recovery measures.[7] The Law of Ukraine "On the Legal Regime of Emergency Situations" (No. 1550-III, 2000, as amended) establishes procedures for declaring and managing emergencies, empowering the SESU to coordinate national responses.[8] The SESU operates under the direction of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine through the Ministry of Internal Affairs, following its transfer from independent ministry status on April 25, 2014. The Regulation on the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (approved September 9, 2015, by Cabinet Resolution No. 1052) delineates its structure, powers, and responsibilities, including supervision of compliance with civil protection standards and management of the Chernobyl insurance fund. These frameworks align with international standards for disaster risk reduction, with ongoing updates to address wartime needs, such as enhanced demining protocols introduced in 2023–2024.[9]History
Origins and Early Formation
The origins of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) trace back to the immediate aftermath of Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, when the country faced the ongoing consequences of the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear disaster. In December 1991, a state committee was established under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (later independent Ukraine) to manage the Chornobyl catastrophe response, focusing on population protection, environmental monitoring, and liquidation efforts. This committee laid the foundation for organized emergency management in the newly independent state. In 1996, the committee merged with the state civil defense body to form the Ministry of Emergencies of Ukraine (MESU), a central executive authority responsible for civil defense, rescue operations, and protection from technological and natural disasters. The MESU integrated firefighting, hydrometeorological services, and technogenic safety inspections, addressing peacetime hazards like industrial accidents and floods alongside nuclear risks. Early challenges included limited resources and coordination in a transitioning economy, but the ministry quickly expanded to over 70,000 personnel by the early 2000s, responding to events such as the 2008 floods in western Ukraine that affected multiple oblasts.[2] The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the MESU's role solidify through legislative frameworks, including the 2004 Law on the Legal Regime of Emergencies, which defined state responsibilities for prevention and mitigation. By 2003, the ministry assumed control of firefighting services from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, dissolving militarized units to emphasize civilian response capabilities. This period marked a shift from Soviet-era military-focused civil defense to a modern, all-hazards approach tailored to Ukraine's environmental and industrial vulnerabilities.Evolution and Key Reforms
Significant reforms began in the mid-2000s to demilitarize and professionalize the service. In 2005, the MESU transitioned to a fully non-military structure, prioritizing rescue and prevention over defense-oriented activities. Administrative changes continued with the 2010 renaming to the Ministry of Ukraine for Emergencies and Protection from the Consequences of the Chornobyl Catastrophe (Presidential Decree No. 1085/2010), enhancing focus on long-term disaster recovery.[2] On December 24, 2012, Presidential Decree No. 726/2012 reorganized the MESU and the State Inspectorate of Technogenic and Fire Safety into the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU), a central executive body under the Cabinet of Ministers. Initially placed under the Ministry of Defence, the SESU was transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs on April 25, 2014, aligning it more closely with civilian law enforcement and public safety structures amid the Euromaidan Revolution and ensuing instability. These reforms streamlined operations, improved inter-agency coordination, and incorporated international standards for disaster risk reduction.[2] The full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022 profoundly shaped the SESU's evolution, expanding its mandate to wartime emergencies. The service has since led rubble clearance, unexploded ordnance disposal, civilian evacuations, and humanitarian aid distribution, responding to over 240,000 incidents annually as of 2023. Partnerships with organizations like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 2016 have modernized equipment, training, and psychological support, including demining tools and early warning systems. By 2025, the SESU has recruited thousands of volunteers and integrated technologies like drones for search-and-rescue, underscoring its adaptation to hybrid threats combining conflict and natural disasters. Over 30 rescuers have been killed in the line of duty since 2022, highlighting the agency's critical role in national resilience.[4]Organizational Structure
National and State-Level Organization
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) operates as a centralized national agency under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with its central apparatus located in Kyiv. The central office includes key departments such as the Emergency Response Office, the Department of Organization of Civil Protection Measures, the Emergency Prevention Department, Personnel Management, and Resource Management, which coordinate policy implementation, operational planning, and resource allocation across the country.[10] At the regional level, the SESU maintains 25 territorial divisions, corresponding to Ukraine's 24 oblasts and the city of Kyiv, each headed by a main directorate responsible for local emergency response, fire suppression, and civil protection activities. These directorates oversee a network of state fire and rescue units, operational-rescue services, and specialized teams tailored to regional hazards, such as flood-prone areas or industrial zones. Additionally, the SESU includes specialized formations for nationwide deployment, including the Special Rescue Unit equipped for mine clearance, engineering works, chemical and radiation surveys, and decontamination; the Interregional Center of Quick Response; the Mobile Rescue Center with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) protection units; and the Special Aviation Group for aerial operations.[11][6] The SESU integrates professional personnel with some volunteer components, though it primarily relies on its approximately 70,000-strong workforce for operations. Regional directorates ensure coordination with local authorities and other emergency services through operational centers, facilitating rapid response across Ukraine's diverse terrain and ongoing wartime challenges. Inter-agency collaboration occurs via the Unified State System of Civil Protection and Safety, enabling joint efforts with police, military, and international partners during major incidents.[4]Leadership and Agency Executives
The SESU is led by a Head appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, who serves as the chief executive responsible for strategic direction, operational oversight, and implementation of state policy in civil protection. The Head reports to the Minister of Internal Affairs and chairs the central apparatus, with deputies handling specific areas such as operational response and personnel. Appointments emphasize experience in emergency management and are governed by the Regulation on the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.[12] As of November 2025, the key executive is:| Role | Executive | Tenure and Background |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Andriy Danyik | Appointed June 28, 2024; Colonel with over 20 years in emergency services. Previously served as Head of the SESU Main Directorate in Cherkasy Oblast (since January 2020), Acting First Deputy Head of SESU (2023), and in various operational and leadership roles within the service.[13][14] |