Vasyl Teteria: Bavarian assistance contributes to saving the lives of civilian Ukrainians
This point was emphasised by the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine during a meeting with Udo Skrzypczak, the President of the Bavarian Special Response Police (die Bereitschaftspolizei), in Nuremberg, the Free State of Bavaria, the Federal Republic of Germany.
The Ukrainian delegation was headed by Vasyl Teteria, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, and Yuliia Oleksiienko, Director of the Department for Organisation of Activities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
Security and the expansion of police functions in times of war were the main items on the agenda. The Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine told his Bavarian colleagues about the main tasks of the police, which had not been previously performed by them, including documenting war crimes committed by the russian army.
“The National Police of Ukraine is documenting about 95% of all war crimes. This involves collecting the proper evidence base to bring the russian war criminals to justice not only in Ukrainian but also in international courts. Moreover, our police officers have acquired unique skills in investigating war crimes during the active phase of the war applying the cutting-edge capabilities and technologies,” —said Vasyl Teteria, while addressing international partners.
The Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine also highlighted the work of the police in curbing the crime rate in the country. According to Vasyl Teteria, the number of property crimes has decreased by 40% compared to the indices of 2021.
“The war is raging in the country, therefore, the number of weapons, explosives, and ammunition in illegal circulation is increasing. However, the police are working to identify and prevent cases of illegal sale and use of weapons and ammunition in our country. We are also keeping records of weapons issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine at the beginning of the invasion,” — said the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
In his turn, Udo Skrzypczak, the President of the Bavarian Special Response Police, briefed the Ukrainian delegation on the work of the Bavarian units, including the training of future police officers, their education, as well as their subsequent employment and approach to working with citizens:
“Communication is an essential component of training. After all, police officers’ biggest tool is their words. We are constantly improving the skills of our police officers in line with the current conditions. It is important that every police officer upholds the norms of democracy.”
Udo Skrzypczak also informed about the work of the canine units of the police and their effectiveness:
“Canine units of the police play a pivotal role in ensuring public safety. Thanks to specially trained dogs, these units effectively search for drugs, explosives, missing persons and evidence at crime scenes. They are also actively involved in maintaining public order during mass events”.
The partners have additionally discussed the prospects for cooperation in policing. Vasyl Teteria, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, noted that as a result of their work in wartime, Ukrainian police officers have a unique experience and are ready to share it with the Bavarian side.
“It’s hard for us to imagine the situation Ukraine finds itself in. Your units have faced something new, and unfortunately, this new experience is war. Nevertheless, we admire you and your agencies, which are making every effort to keep life going on all fronts. For our part, we are committed to helping you in any way we can. We assure you that we will support you for as long as you need us,” — said Udo Skrzypczak, the President of the Bavarian Special Response Police.
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine thanked his Bavarian colleagues for all the assistance provided to Ukraine during the full-scale invasion. This particularly includes vehicles, radio stations, generators, etc.
Vasyl Teteria emphasised that each aid package is used exclusively for its intended purpose by police and rescuers to ensure the rescue of citizens in emergency situations:
“You have been our steadfast partners for many years. We would like to thank the people of Bavaria, your police officers, and personally the President of the Bavarian Special Response Police for all the assistance they have provided to our country. You were the first German state to extend a helping hand to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. In our turn, we will be very glad to see you in Ukraine, we stand ready to arrange your visit, your safety, so that you can see how the people of Ukraine are fighting the enemy”
After the meeting, Udo Skrzypczak briefed Vasyl Teteria, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, on the work of the Nuremberg Special Response Police. The parties agreed to continue to coordinate efforts to exchange experience and support each other through joint exercises and training.
Communications Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
