Ukrainian HUSAR MRC Team Tops Global INSARAG Re-Certification

The Ukrainian search-and-rescue team HUSAR MRC Ukraine has successfully passed the INSARAG recertification in Gdańsk, Poland. International experts have recognized it as the most powerful among all teams in the world. This was announced by the Deputy Head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Volodymyr Demchuk, during a briefing at the Ukraine Media Center.

“Ukrainian specialists, operating under wartime conditions, have gained extensive practical experience, and international experts have recognized our team as the strongest among all teams worldwide”

According to Demchuk, the final recertification opens Ukraine’s access to the global network of rescuers, allows acting in accordance with unified international standards, obtaining up-to-date information about emergencies, and joining the efforts to mitigate disaster consequences without the need for additional certifications.

The head of the Ukrainian team, Maxim Mayevskyi, stressed that HUSAR MRC Ukraine includes 67 core and 67 reserve rescuers who are capable of performing the full range of work in accordance with international requirements.

INSARAG is an international advisory group on search and rescue, established in 1991 after major earthquakes. The organization has a UN mandate and brings together governmental and non-governmental structures that jointly coordinate disaster response worldwide.

The recertification underscores the readiness of Ukrainian rescuers to actively coordinate with colleagues from various countries and contribute to joint efforts to recover after disasters in line with INSARAG standards and benchmarks.

Significance for Ukraine’s Civil Protection System

The success of HUSAR MRC Ukraine has strengthened Ukraine’s position on the international stage as a reliable partner in the field of search and rescue. The level of training and the INSARAG reference base enable faster and more accurate coordination with colleagues from Europe and around the world during global and local emergencies.

Moreover, the recertification opens new opportunities for knowledge exchange, joint training, and participation in international operations to mitigate disaster consequences under unified standards, increasing the effectiveness of rescue missions in Ukraine.

Thanks to this step, the Ukrainian team can mobilize resources faster, attract international aid, and apply proven practices when responding to emergencies both domestically and abroad. This is an important factor in strengthening the civil protection system in the long term.