Airbus delivers first helicopters to Ukraine

KIEV: Ukraine on Friday presented the first two of 55 helicopters it ordered from European aerospace giant Airbus for civil use in a deal worth over half a billion euros.

The two H225 Super Puma helicopters went on display in Kiev's Boryspil international airport during a handover ceremony attended by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Airbus officials.

"This is an extraordinary event, clear evidence of the strengthening of the material resources for our border guards, for our rescue workers, for the National Guard," Poroshenko said at the ceremony.

In July, Ukraine signed a contract with Airbus to buy 55 of its civil helicopters for 555 million euros ($634 million at the current rate).

Eighty-five percent of that amount will be covered by a loan from the French treasury and French banks.

The 24 H125, 10 H145 and 21 H225 helicopters are set to be used for civil security needs including border monitoring, policing and emergency situations.

"First of all, they will be aimed at providing rescue services, including in mountainous areas (and) in the area of the Azov Sea and the Black Sea, where we, unfortunately, have to be prepared for any incidents," Poroshenko said on Friday.

He also expressed hope that Ukraine would reach a wider agreement with Airbus on delivering its military helicopters, saying this would be the "second stage".

In late November, Russia seized three Ukrainian navy vessels and detained 24 crew members in the most serious incident in years between the ex-Soviet neighbours.

Kiev accused Moscow of launching a new phase of aggression after the first open military incident between the countries since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea.