Finland helping modernize Ukrainian weather service

MOSCOW. June 6 (Interfax) - Finland has provided Ukraine with equipment to modernize the national weather service, Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klimenko said.

"We have discussed results of the two-year implementation of a joint project with Finnish Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine Jaakko Lehtovirta and Finnish Meteorological Institute Director for Export Services Harri Pietarila today. We seek to automate the process of weather monitoring and forecasting dangerous weather phenomena. That requires the equipment provided to us by the Finnish colleagues," Ukrainian media quoted Klimenko's statement on a social network.

In his words, Ukrainian specialists have been trained to use new weather workstations with proper software and powerful servers, Klimenko said. Ten automatic weather stations and a specialized maritime weather station are being delivered, he said.

"The provided equipment enables us to digitalize the forecasting process and to expedite the detection of risks of natural calamities. I am grateful to the Finnish colleagues for their involvement and support," Klimenko said.