Despite the scandal over Bandera Street: funds were raised in Poland for Vinnytsia's buses

In Poland, activists of the Sikorki na Ukrainie foundation successfully completed a fundraising campaign for buses for Vinnytsia following a political scandal over the transfer of vehicles from the sister city Kielce.

Data from the platform Zrzutka show this, where a charity fundraiser “Buses for Vinnytsia. Politicians block, we keep going” was opened.

The organizers managed to exceed the planned goal of 500,000 zlotys. In total, according to the fundraiser, 518 210 zlotys were collected, which is approximately 6.3 million hryvnias.

With these funds, activists plan to buy from the Polish city Kielce 15 used buses that were previously to be handed over to Vinnytsia as aid. These are old city buses that are being decommissioned in Kielce due to age, technical condition, and mileage.

The foundation explains that the transport is needed in Vinnytsia not for comfort but to keep the city functioning during the war. Due to Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, electric transport can stop during blackouts, and diesel buses in such conditions remain critically important for moving people.

The organizers of the fundraiser on Zrzutka explained that they want to buy the buses for Vinnytsia or find other transport if an agreement with Kielce cannot be reached.

The activists also previously stated that if the target amount were exceeded they would try to purchase even more vehicles. In addition to buses, the organizers planned to buy several inexpensive used cars for the Vinnytsia Veterans Hospital.

Recall that the scandal arose after Vinnytsia withdrew its request to the Polish sister city Kielce for the transfer of 15 decommissioned buses. The reason was a political dispute in Poland: some local councilors opposed the aid because Vinnytsia has a Stepan Bandera Street.

The Polish side reported that Vinnytsia’s mayor Serhiy Morgunov withdrew the request so that humanitarian aid to a city living under war would not become an instrument of political conflict. After that, Polish activists decided to bypass the political dispute and independently raise funds to buy the vehicles. They emphasized that for them this initiative is a way to show true solidarity with Ukraine and not allow political games to derail aid to civilians.

Previously we wrote:

• Buses didn’t arrive due to Bandera: Vinnytsia refused aid from Poland after a political scandal
• Evening bus route No.1 from the Korabelnyi district changed
• A lyceum in the Korabelnyi district received two new school buses
• Mykolaiv launched a controller ticket: since May 18 they have found 68 “fare-dodgers”
• Finally: bus No.49 is being launched to Shyroka Balka