Expanding to the East – EUAM’s Mobile Unit Deployment to Dnipro
March 17, 2023
In May of 2022, the EUAM began to return to Ukraine, following the evacuation of international staff in February, due to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion.
While the Mission’s operation in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa are fully operational, the Field Offices in Kharkiv and Mariupol remain temporarily closed.
Nonetheless, EUAM has begun to increase its footprint in the eastern oblasts. A first set of meetings and assessment of the security situation in Dnipro city took place as early as December of last year.
Now, as the ice on the Dnipro river melts, the Mission’s Mobile Unit was once again deployed to Dnipro city. “We wanted to provide colleagues from all units with a platform, so they could have meetings, hold trainings and implement activities over a longer period of time,” says Ove Urup-Madsen, Head of the Mobile Unit.
Ove Urup-Madsen, Head of EUAM’s Mobile Unit, at the DSUIA
Over the course of two weeks, EUAM staff met with representatives of the National Police of Ukraine from Dnipro, Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts, as well as with representatives of the regional Public Prosecutors Office, the Dnipro Customs, and the Deputy Head of Regional Military Administration.
The Mission’s Chief of Staff Maura O’Sullivan used the opportunity to hold several meetings in Dnipro city. She met with the Deputy Head of Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Krasnook, as well as with the Rector of the Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs (DSUIA), Andrii Fomenko.
The meeting with the Deputy Head of Regional Military Administration showed the willingness to engage with EUAM, in order to enhance the capabilities of interlocutors in the region.
Maura O’Sullivan, EUAM’s Chief of Staff, discussing with the Deputy Head of Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Krasnook
During a meeting with the regional representative of the Ukrainian Ombudsperson, many challenges Dnipro region faces were discussed, particularly in coping with high numbers of Internally Displaced Persons.
EUAM Senior Advisor on Human Rights Katri Linna, meeting the regional representative of the Ukrainian Ombudsperson Vladyslav Onyshchenko and Regional Public Relations Coordinator of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner on Human Rights in Dnipropetrovsk region Oksana Krupiy
EUAM also donated 48 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for female and male students, for training purposes.
EUAM Chief of Staff donating PPEs to DSUIA, represented by Rector Andrii Fomenko
Jointly with Rector Fomenko, O’Sullivan visited a training site for the investigation of International Crimes (IC).
DSUIA Rector and EUAM Chief of Staff visiting IC-investigation training site
Also, a series of training was held at the DSUIA by the Mission’s experts on Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and investigation analysis. 28 participants from different Law Enforcement Agencies attended lectures on the collection and analysis of intelligence for the purpose of the investigation and prosecution of International Crimes.
EUAM Chief of Staff, Maura O’Sullivan, opening OSINT training at the DSUIA
“It is fantastic to see that the Mission’s work on the ground in Dnipro is so highly appreciated by our interlocutors,” Maura O’Sullivan concluded. “We have now strengthened relations with a number of partners in the region and established contacts with new ones.”
Still, the need for advice, training and equipment remains high, so the next deployment to Dnipro is already planned.
