Communities across Ukraine stand shoulder to shoulder in support of Odesa: nearly 40 buses provided to the city

Communities from different regions of the country are providing transport support to Odesa so that the city can ensure passenger transportation.

Due to the difficult situation with electricity supply in the Odesa region caused by massive russian shelling, problems with passenger transport have arisen. Almost 40% of Odesa's public transport runs on electricity and cannot fully operate on its routes. In response to this need, communities from other regions of Ukraine are providing transport support to the city.

This process is being coordinated by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, ensuring cooperation between communities and a rapid response to the needs of the regions.

Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine – Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine Oleksii Kuleba noted that this involves assistance from the communities of Lviv, Kropyvnytskyi, Mykolaiv, Zhytomyr, Mariupol, Vinnytsia and Bila Tserkva. They responded promptly to the situation in Odesa region and are preparing their vehicle fleets for dispatch: Lviv and Kropyvnytskyi communities are providing 10 buses each, Mykolaiv and Zhytomyr communities are providing 5 buses each, and Mariupol and Vinnytsia communities are providing 3 buses each. The Bila Tserkva community is also providing buses.

The transport is being provided to help overcome the consequences of the difficult situation with electricity supply. Some of the buses are already on their way to Odesa, and the rest will be sent in the coming days.

"Amidst the challenging circumstances of war, communities across the country are standing shoulder to shoulder and joining forces to support each other and jointly address pressing issues. This cooperation helps to respond quickly to local needs, support people and ensure the stable functioning of important areas of community life," said Oleksii Kuleba.

Such interaction between communities is in line with the approaches of the national project "Side by Side: United Communities," which was launched this year. Its essence is that communities from different regions directly help each other in the difficult conditions of war. In practice, this means transferring transport and equipment, assisting with infrastructure restoration, supporting the work of public utilities, and helping people in the communities that have been most affected. 1,100 communities have already joined the project, working together to overcome the challenges of war and support everyday life on the ground.