At the Global Partnership (GP) meeting in November 2014, the Government of Ukraine put forth several proposals requesting assistance in the area of nuclear and radiological security as well as requests for enhancements in abilities to manage and respond to nuclear incidents. In response to this request, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency is providing assistance to the National Guard of Ukraine, National Police of Ukraine, ATC of the Security Service of Ukraine, and the George Kuzmich Training Center of the Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine to enhance the capabilities to respond to nuclear incidents, secure information and communication mechanisms, and prevent illegal trafficking of nuclear materials outside of regulatory control.
As part of the Global Nuclear Security Program in Ukraine, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency completed construction of the Interagency Operations Headquarters for the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine and the Emergency Information Center of State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency also completed the procurement of security equipment for the National Guard of Ukraine, focused on personal protective equipment, physical security, emergency response, transportation, and communications. Currently the objective of the project is to provide the necessary equipment and to enhance the professional training of personnel to strengthen and expand the capacity to perform tasks assigned to the respective agencies of the National Police, the National Guard and the Security Service of Ukraine in the sphere of countering illicit trafficking in nuclear material.
Assistance for the National Police of Ukraine:
Procurement of equipment to enhance necessary capabilities of the Department to respond to radioactive, chemical, biological and nuclear threats and prevent trafficking of nuclear materials, through acquisition of radiological/chemical detection means, communication means, vehicles and protection gear and through training at the George Kuzmich Center.
Assistance for the National Guard of Ukraine:
Provision of training courses for the National Guard Nuclear Security Force and CBRN force with an emphasis on expanding and integrating the coordinative efforts towards transportation security, security force management and response, emergency response management and operations, countering illicit trafficking of radioactive/nuclear materials, and nuclear security sustainment.
Assistance for the Anti-Terrorist Center of the Security Service of Ukraine:
Providing logistics support and vulnerability assessments of tabletop and field training exercises. Developing and providing training courses in areas of concern at the George Kuzmich Center.
Assistance to George Kuzmich Training Center of the Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine:
Assistance in the development and provision of training courses for the National Guard Nuclear Security Force, the National Police, and the Anti-Terrorist Center of the Security Service of Ukraine in the areas of physical security, emergency/crisis response, command and control, and prevention of trafficking of nuclear materials. Assistance in renovation of classroom facilities and the construction of a new multi-functional training facility to allow the possibility of the development of different anti-sabotage scenarios for field training exercises.