Andrzej Duda met with the 98-strong police team at the presidential palace in Warsaw on Thursday and described their mission as “a beautiful gesture for Ukraine on behalf of Poland," public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
The president thanked the officers for helping clear mines, unexploded shells and other explosive devices from Ukrainian land.
‘Ukrainian people will never forget your help’
Duda said: “It was a beautiful gesture from Poland, carried out through your hands, your heroism, your dedication to serving others.”
The president added: “I thank you for this from the bottom of my heart, because I deeply believe and I know that the people of Ukraine will never forget your help.”
Duda decorated the police officers for completing their mission, which had been kept secret, the IAR news agency reported.
Mission 'to protect Ukraine’s civilian population from mortal danger'
Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński hailed the police team as “heroes” and said their task had been “exceptionally difficult and dangerous.”
Kamiński said that the mine-clearing operation was conducted “over five months” in areas near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, which was under Russian occupation in the first weeks of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian army left behind thousands of mines, bombs, shells and other explosive devices, some of which may have been planted deliberately as traps, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Kamiński stressed that the mission of the Polish team was “to protect Ukraine’s civilian population from mortal danger," Polish state news agency PAP reported.
He told the police officers: “You were there at the invitation of the Ukrainian authorities, who had turned to us with a dramatic appeal for help … You have shown unshakeable character, extraordinary courage and exceptional professionalism. We are really very proud of you.”
Polish police officers clear 2,000 explosives from Ukraine: officials
The Polish team swept some 342,000 square metres of Ukrainian land for mines, clearing more than 43,500 square metres, as well as clearing over 17,500 metres of road, Polish police said.
Some 2,000 dangerous and explosive devices were removed, including mines, grenades and artillery shells, as well as almost 700 kilograms of combat remains, according to officials.
Thursday is day 365 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, policja.pl
