On Monday in Dobele, everyone is also a bit Ukrainian. This is both because they warm up with Ukrainian borscht before the torchlight procession for Lāčplēsis Day and because so many of the townspeople have contributed to the aid convoy.
"You can imagine - Latvians and Ukrainians... It's a pity that things are so harsh in Ukraine. But we are trying to support, to do everything to bring peace sooner. I believe that Latvia is celebrating with Ukrainians today and I wish them all the best. And today we are sending them the 60th convoy," said Diana Kačāne, a participant in the event.
Convoy driver Haralds Pumpišs points to the line of cars that will be driven away. He can't remember how many convoy trips he has had, "between 20 and 30." He has been a member of both the barricades and the first police battalion. "What was going on there and what we had in 1991 - we were actually playing in the sandbox. We've been all over the front. What we have seen there, it's horrible," Pumpišs said.
Dobele is celebrating this year's Latvian Lāčplēsis' Day with the symbol of the Ukrainian coat of arms, the trident, and with torches held high.
