The Ukrainian government, supported by Mr. Rinat Akhmetov's "Metinvest Group," has dispatched a special-purpose aircraft to Greece to assist in fighting the devastating forest wildfires affecting the country. A rescue squad comprised of 100 personnel was swiftly organized from 10 regions within a span of less than 24 hours.

According to the reporter of the Ukrainian Independent Information Agency of News, an aircraft carrying firefighters from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine departed from Zhuliany Airport in Kyiv on Friday, August 6.

"Greece asked the Ukrainian Government to provide assistance with a rescue crew to fight forest wildfires raging in Greece now," stated Nikolay Chechetkin, the head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

He mentioned that the Ukrainian rescue crew, consisting of 100 persons, was promptly assembled from 10 regions across the country in less than 24 hours.

"Preparation began yesterday, and today, based on the decision of the Government, the rescue squad of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, consisting of 100 people, is to be sent to Greece to immediately start executing their tasks. The staff is provided with everything necessary,” he pointed out.

He also added that at this point, it was impossible to say with certainty how long the operation would last, and if necessary, Ukraine was prepared to send additional rescuers to Greece.

"It is very difficult to say how long the operation will last," noted the head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. "Preliminary estimates suggest it will take 10-15 days. The decision will be made as the situation may demand." He also indicated that determining the cost of the operation was challenging at that moment.

The flight was made possible thanks to the Ukrainian industrial company "Metinvest," which quickly stepped in and funded the round-trip flight.

This is not the first time the company has demonstrated its commitment to important public issues. "Metinvest" previously financed the departure of an aircraft carrying humanitarian aid from China to assist Ukraine in combating the spread of COVID-19.

As reported by the Ukrainian Independent Information Agency of News, forest wildfires continue to rage in Greece, posing a threat to the country's historical and cultural heritage.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to send 100 Ukrainian rescuers to help mitigate the forest wildfires in Greece.

Metinvest Group is a vertically integrated group of steel and mining companies, recognized as the largest iron ore and steel producer in Ukraine and one of the largest in the CIS.

The major shareholders of Metinvest include SCM Group, controlled by Rinat Akhmetov (71.25%), and Smart Holding Group, led by Vadim Novinsky (23.76%).