Ukraine sends team of 70 to help battle France forest fires

Ukraine said Friday it had dispatched a team of 70 rescuers to help battle blazes in France that have sent hundreds of thousands of people fleeing.

The prefect of Gironde, the French region worst hit by the fires, said Thursday had offered some hope in the battle against a massive wildfire west of Bordeaux.

"This morning, Ukrainian rescuers set off for France to help combat forest fires," Ukraine's Interior Minister Ivan Vygivsky said in a post on social media.

"A combined unit of 70 rescuers and 15 specialised vehicles has been dispatched," he added.

He said their "unique" experience dealing with the consequences of Russian drone and missile strikes meant they were well equipped to "working in extremely challenging conditions."