Today 25 November, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, and the Estonian Transport Administration are sending nine buses to Zhytomyr Oblast in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu and Indrek Gailan, acting Undersecretary for Transport at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, attended the departure of the buses.
Ahead of the event, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said that Estonia provided comprehensive assistance to Ukraine, including buses, which began as early as this spring. “In addition to military, economic and political assistance, we continue to prioritise providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine through various practical and necessary projects and shipments. The humanitarian aid needs of Ukraine remain great – as of now, Estonia has provided Ukraine with humanitarian aid worth around €23.1 million, including €4.1 million in public sector support,” Reinsalu said. He added that Estonia’s humanitarian aid included assistance to help Ukrainians cope during the winter as Russia is attacking Ukraine’s energy system brutally and indiscriminately. By donating the buses, we are making a vital contribution to helping Ukrainians in their daily lives.
“I am happy that we can send nine more buses to Ukrainians to help them restore transport links. These are an addition to the five buses we sent this summer,” Director General of the Transport Administration Priit Sauk said. “All buses have passed technical checks and are in a good condition. These are the Irisbus Crossway buses of Iveco, which has provided transport services in Estonia, and have been in service for nearly 10 years. Estonia supports Ukrainians and Ukraine, and we will send more buses as soon as possible,” Sauk said.
With the buses that departed today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications and the Transport Authority have allocated a total of 26 buses to Ukraine. The remaining 18 buses will depart in the coming weeks.
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/estonian-foreign-ministry/albums/72177720303965027
