Activists in Poland have launched a fundraiser to purchase buses for Vinnytsia

The Polish charity Sikorki na Ukrainie has launched a fundraising campaign on the Zrzutka.pl platform to purchase 15 used 17-year-old buses from the city of Kielce and donate them to the residents of Vinnytsia. The organizers aim to raise 500,000 zlotys. As of the evening of June 11, nearly 57,000 zlotys had already been raised. 

Activists emphasized that the amount raised is a drop in the bucket for the state budget, while local politicians are exploiting the hype surrounding aid to Ukraine to boost their own poll ratings, thereby derailing the transfer of equipment. 

The organizers believe it is necessary to demonstrate genuine solidarity and not allow political maneuvering to block the complex logistics. They also noted that if the purchase of the vehicles proves impossible for reasons beyond their control, all funds raised will be directed toward efforts to protect Ukraine’s civilian population from Russian airstrikes.

This was reported by Zrzutka.pl.

The initiative arose after Agata Woda, the mayor of Kielce, stated the day before that lies, manipulation, and malice were being spread regarding the Ukrainian city’s request. As a result, Vinnytsia Mayor Serhiy Morgunov decided to withdraw the official request for the transfer of this equipment. The scandal was compounded by the fact that the Law and Justice party faction in the Kielce City Council sent a resolution to Council Chairman Maciej Jakubczyk calling on the mayor of Vinnytsia to rename Stepan Bandera Street, but the vote failed completely.