By the Department of Mine Action, Lviv State University of Life Safety
Prepared for the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) Consortium CROSSFLOOD Project
CBRN Unit
Context and Experience
Lviv State University of Life Safety (LSULS) possesses substantial scientific and practical capacity in the field of CBRN protection, underpinned by an advanced technical and material base and innovative research programmes. The University’s specialists have unique expert experience in risk assessment and situation forecasting under real emergency conditions, including large-scale industrial accidents and the extremely complex conditions of the war in Ukraine. This synergy of science and practice enables the effective adaptation of international response standards to the most pressing challenges of contemporary security. The University’s academic and research staff have repeatedly been involved in eliminating the consequences of missile and drone strikes on critical infrastructure and civilian sites, including incidents involving the release of radioactive and hazardous chemical substances.
A significant confirmation of the University’s high level of expertise is the active integration of the University team into the global security system through participation in large-scale international projects. In particular, with the support of the OSCE, University specialists are engaged in delivering training in response to chemical threats involving chemical warfare agents, as well as in organising command-and-staff exercises on inter-agency cooperation. In addition, the University plays a key role in developing tactical concepts within the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) for a number of international projects, including the CROSSFLOOD project, and cooperates closely with NATO structures and the Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) in order to implement advanced international best practice.
Functional Capabilities
The CBRN team provides operational response to cascading emergencies, including transboundary flooding accompanied by sudden spills or releases of hazardous substances. Under these complex conditions, the unit ensures continuous reconnaissance and monitoring of chemical and radiological contamination within the flood zone, forecasting of the emergency’s development, sampling from contaminated environments, neutralisation of hazardous chemical substances, and the rapid deployment and conduct of decontamination for rescuers and the local population directly at the incident site.
Equipment Utilisation Strategy
The equipment utilisation strategy is based on the principle of high mobility, ensured through the deployment of specialised radiological and chemical reconnaissance vehicles.
These transport platforms enable the rapid deployment of forces and the delivery of specialised equipment directly to the incident area. To ensure the safe performance of tasks at the epicentre of contamination, the so-called “Hot Zones”, personnel are equipped with advanced personal protective equipment. A key tool for rapid decision-making is expedited diagnostics using portable radiological and chemical reconnaissance and dosimetric monitoring instruments.
The use of such portable systems enables the immediate detection and precise identification of hazardous chemical substances and sources of ionising radiation under complex field conditions.
CROSSFLOOD — Exercise Tasks
– Conducting continuous monitoring of radiological and chemical contamination in the emergency zone using specialised instruments.
– Carrying out expert risk assessment and modelling of the development of the radiological and chemical situation in the context of transboundary flooding and at adjacent industrial facilities.
– Localising and eliminating the consequences of sudden spills or releases of hazardous chemical substances caused by large-scale flooding.
– Performing specialised tasks directly within zones of highest contamination using modern personal protective equipment.
– Rapid detection and precise identification of unknown chemical substances and sources of ionising radiation under field conditions using specialised instruments.
– Ensuring the safe collection of samples from contaminated environments (water, soil, air) for further in-depth laboratory analysis.
– Rapid deployment and uninterrupted operation of decontamination points for the affected local population.
– Conducting full decontamination of personnel and equipment upon exit from the hazard zone.
– Adapting and practically rehearsing interaction algorithms with other modules in accordance with international standards and safety protocols.
