This is the third time Rīga is sending buses to Ukraine, totaling 30. They were sent to Kyiv the previous two times, but this time the buses would go to Chernihiv residents.
“Rīga volunteered to help the town of Chernihiv. These ten buses will help bring residents from the city's districts to the center and other places, as well as possibly some of them will also transport passengers to the region's suburbs,“ Anatoly Kucevol, Ukraine's ambassador to Latvia, told LTV.
These buses have been driving on the streets of Rīga for more than 20 years, and their mileage is around one million kilometers. But they are in good enough condition to still be used, officials said.
Donations to buses can be delivered:
Saturday, November 11, outside the mall “Akropole Alfa”,
Sunday, November 12, outside the shopping center Spice,
Tuesday, November 14, at Rīga City Council.
"The Chenichiv side has asked for donations of the necessary things for kindergartens and shelters [..]. This is very important, especially in winter conditions. Equipping these shelters with both food and charging stations, sleeping bags,” said Rūta Dimanta, head of the foundation Ziedot.lv.
Residents are also invited to donate funds to fill buses on the portal “ziedot.lv”.