Azernews.Az

BAKU - Azerbaijan and Ukraine will grant two helicopters and two aircraft to Russia to combat forest fires that have hit central Russia amid the ongoing heatwave, Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Shoigu asked President Medvedev to include these vehicles in the overall response plan.

"Of course, I give permission," Medvedev said, signing relevant documents.

Thus, according to Shoigu, the number of aircraft involved in the fire-fighting efforts in Russia, given those granted by Ukraine and Azerbaijan, will be 60.

He noted that Ukraine has made a proposal to provide two AN-32 aircraft. "This is not amphibious," he said.

"Azerbaijan offered two helicopters, which they bought two years ago from Russia," Shoigu said.

He added that other countries are also making offers. "But we decided in favor of these two countries," he said.

"In general, we thank our partners for proposals to provide assistance. It's worth a lot, especially at a time of such trouble," Medvedev said.

Wildfires in Russia have engulfed 529 locations encompassing an area of over 172,300 hectares.