In Poland, a charitable campaign has started to raise funds for the purchase of buses for Vinnytsia after the Ukrainian city withdrew its request for free transport from Kielce due to a political conflict over the transfer of vehicles. This was reported by the platform Zrzutka.
The initiative for the fundraising campaign was started by the Polish charity organization Sikorki na Ukrainie.
The organizers of the campaign plan to raise 500,000 zlotys to purchase buses that will be handed over to Vinnytsia. In an appeal to donors, it is emphasized that transportation is necessary to ensure the functioning of the city during potential power outages due to Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
According to the organizers, during blackouts, electric transport cannot operate, so buses with internal combustion engines remain an important reserve for transporting passengers.
The transfer of buses from Kielce sparked a political controversy
It should be noted that earlier, the Polish city of Kielce planned to transfer 15 Solaris buses to Vinnytsia from the fleet that was being decommissioned due to age and technical condition.
However, this initiative became the subject of intense political debate among local politicians. Some deputies opposed the transfer of the transport to Ukraine, citing historical and political issues.
After the escalation of the dispute, Vinnytsia Mayor Serhiy Morgunov withdrew the request for the buses in order not to worsen the partnership relations between the cities.
Buses were planned to be used during blackouts
Kielce Mayor Agata Wojda had previously explained that the transport was needed by Vinnytsia primarily as a reserve in case of disruptions to electricity supply, as a significant part of the city's public transport operates on electric traction.
Now Polish volunteers hope to solve the problem through a public fundraising campaign and independently purchase transport for the Ukrainian city.
It should be noted that a Moldovan was detained in Vinnytsia on an Interpol warrant for child rape.