Five 12-meter buses from Krakow will appear in the capital: how Kyiv residents will travel

Kyiv received five used Solaris buses from Krakow as humanitarian aid. These are 2009 models that were previously used by the Municipal Transport Company MPK. The transfer was reported by the Polish Press Agency (PAP).

As explained by MPK spokesperson Marek Hanczarczyk, the buses are 12 meters long and were retired after the fleet was updated. The transfer of these vehicles to Ukraine will not affect public transport operations in Krakow itself.

Support for Kyiv from the twin city

The transfer took place in response to an official request from Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko to the Mayor of Krakow. The city authorities emphasized that the decision to assist the Ukrainian capital was made considering the difficult situation due to Russian aggression.

«It is worth remembering that Kyiv is a sister city to Krakow — this is the highest form of international partnership,» officials in the city hall noted.

Solaris buses will be used for transportation in the municipal public transport network of the capital, particularly for routes that require reinforcement due to increased passenger flow.

Other Ukrainian cities have also received aid from Krakow

This is not the first batch of transport sent by the Polish side. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Krakow has sent a total of 11 buses to various Ukrainian cities, including:

• Lviv,

• Khmelnytskyi,

• Sumy,

• Kyiv — now received five vehicles.

Such supplies have become part of a humanitarian program to support Ukrainian cities aimed at restoring infrastructure and improving population mobility.

After 2022, Polish cities have repeatedly transferred vehicles to Ukraine — trams, buses, fire-fighting equipment. Krakow actively collaborates with Kyiv within the framework of the twinning cities partnership and also participates in joint cultural and humanitarian initiatives. According to Polish officials, assistance to Ukraine will continue in the future, as it «symbolizes true European solidarity».