Prague donates five buses to war-torn Ukrainian cities

Following public transport aid in 2022 and 2023, the City of Prague and Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) have donated five decommissioned buses to Ukrainian cities affected by the war. The latest donation of buses last week was arranged through Czech NGO People in Need.

The recipients of the vehicles are public transport companies in the cities of Mykolaiv and Bucha, where the donated vehicles will be used for public transportation services. The buses, fully operational, were driven to Ukraine and handed over to representatives of both cities on Friday.

"Since the beginning of the Russian attack, we have been supporting Ukraine, whether through humanitarian, medical, financial aid, or now, the provision of transportation vehicles," Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda states through a press release. "And we will continue to do so because the conflict unfortunately persists."

Three of the buses were donated to Mykolaiv's public transport company. These buses, manufactured in 2009, were previously in use in Prague's public transport until the end of last year. Two additional buses, produced in 2011 and also retired from Prague's fleet at the end of last year, were donated to the public transport company in Bucha.

The donation of these vehicles was facilitated by the City of Prague, following requests for assistance from Oleksandr Sjenkevyč, Mayor of Mykolaiv, and Anatolij Fedoruk, Mayor of Bucha. The vehicles were donated through the non-profit organization People in Need, a significant provider and distributor of humanitarian aid and assistance for the reconstruction of war-affected areas in Ukraine.

"We must primarily help Ukraine in areas of the country that have been affected by Russia's violent aggression," says Zdeněk Hřib, Prague's deputy mayor for transport. "In addition to today's five buses, Prague has already donated hundreds of heaters, power generators, trams, ambulances, food packages, and medical supplies."

"We collaborate with UNICEF to assist children and their families and invest in programs to improve the integration of refugees living in Prague. We thank all Prague residents for their solidarity and humanity. Thanks to targeted assistance, we protect ourselves from the conflict as well."

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, DPP has donated a total of 31 vehicles to Ukrainian partners. In 2022, this included a total of 20 trams and multiple buses to the public transport company in Kharkiv. Last year, two buses and two trolleybus were donated to Mykolaiv, and now another five buses have been donated to Ukraine.