President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said that the NATO Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) has stepped up the appeal of the Ukrainian authorities with a request for assistance in the clearance of the territory in Balaklia of the Kharkiv region.

"The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Centre has already stepped up the mechanism for attracting assistance for humanitarian demining in Balaklia. Thanks to NATO partners for prompt reaction to my appeal," a statement, released on Poroshenko's Twitter on Friday afternoon, says.

As reported, on March 23, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko instructed the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Defense Ministry along with the State Emergency Situations Service to involve NATO's assistance in mine clearing in near the town of Balaklia in Kharkiv region.