Serhii Morhunov: Vinnytsia Received Modern Mercedes Citaro Buses and Medical Aid from Karlsruhe

'We have a nice addition to the community's bus fleet. Our sister city Karlsruhe has donated two Mercedes-Benz Citaro passenger buses to Vinnytsia. These are 12-metre low-floor buses equipped with ramps for people with reduced mobility and can carry about a hundred passengers at a time. Our partners also provided aid to Vinnytsia hospitals: painkillers, antibiotics, medicines for emergency and urgent care – things that are always in demand. This is not the first time we have received support from Karlsruhe. During the full-scale war, the German city has repeatedly sent humanitarian aid: generators of various capacities, medical equipment, building materials and vehicles. Today's aid is further proof that Vinnytsia has true and reliable friends. I would like to thank Mayor Frank Mentrup and the community of Karlsruhe for their solidarity and support,' said the Mayor of Vinnytsia Serhii Morhunov.

The 2015 models run on diesel fuel and comply with the Euro 6 environmental standard. Thanks to the AdBlue system, nitrogen oxide emissions are significantly reduced, making the air in the city cleaner.

The bus interior is 12 metres long, with a folding ramp, 38 seats and 59 standing places, as well as a separate place for a passenger in a wheelchair.

'Mercedes Citaro buses have proven themselves well in European cities. They are reliable, economical and comfortable, so they will quickly become an integral part of city routes. After registration is complete, specialists from the Vinnytsia Transport Company will install validators in the salons, configure information systems and involve them in passenger transport on city routes,' said the deputy director of the Department of Transport and Urban Mobility Serhii Buznykovatyi.

In addition to being economical and environmentally friendly, the buses are also quiet and comfortable during travel, and most importantly, safe on the road. The interior is equipped with video surveillance cameras and air conditioning.

The driver's cab is designed to keep the driver comfortable throughout their shift. It has ventilation and heating, which is important in any season. The steering wheel has buttons for controlling the main functions, allowing the driver to stay focused on the road. The mirrors are electrically adjustable and heated.

Among other things, partners from Karlsruhe sent medical supplies to Vinnytsia for the city's hospitals – medicines that are needed every day.

'These are painkillers, antibiotics, and emergency and urgent care medications. They were distributed among four medical institutions: Vinnytsia City Clinical Hospital No. 1, the emergency hospital, the Mother and Child Clinical Hospital, and the Vinnytsia Regional Centre for Cardiovascular Pathology,' says Oleksandr Shysh, director of the Vinnytsia City Council's Department of Health.

This aid arrived in the city thanks to the coordination efforts of volunteers from the Podilska Hromada Community Foundation.

Director of the Podilska Hromada Olena Danilova adds: 'This partnership confirms once again that in difficult times, Vinnytsia has reliable friends who support the city not with words, but with concrete actions — for the comfort of people and the stability of the community.'