On March 9, 2023, the Luxembourg Directorate of Defence organised an official ceremony to hand over 14 armoured ambulances to the “Ukraine is Calling” campaign.
These vehicles were custom-made by Venari Group, the UK’s leading manufacturer of emergency vehicles. The first eight vehicles were delivered from the UK to Luxembourg and handed over to LUkraine asbl. Later, they will be transferred to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and serve the Ukrainian paramedics on the frontline.
The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including
- François Bausch, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence
- Natalia Anoshyna, Chargée d’affaires a.i. of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
- General Steve Thull, Chief of Defence of the Luxembourg Armed Forces
- Colonel Oleg Semenikhin, Defence Attaché to the Embassy of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
- Nicolas Zharov, President of LUkraine asbl
- Inna Yaremenko, Vice President of LUkraine asbl
- Oliver North, Deputy Chairman at Venari Group
“Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, medical infrastructure has become one of their main targets. The Ukrainian Ministry of Healthcare reports 65 attacks on ambulances. This estimation is approximate as there is no confirmed information from temporarily occupied territories. The situation on the frontline is even more difficult. Russian troops keep targeting rescuing vehicles to thwart injured servants’ salvation and constantly shell them with missiles, mines, or gunfire. Paramedics constantly risk working in inhumane conditions and doing their best to save lives with destroyed medical equipment or lacking supplies. Unfortunately, we don’t have data on the number of paramedics who died on the frontline, but we see this news daily. One of the latest victims of Russian terrorism was Jonathan Shenkin, a volunteer paramedic from the UK. These armoured ambulances are vital for Ukrainian heroes and will undoubtedly help save hundreds of lives. There are no words to express our gratitude to the Directorate of Defence of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Thank you for your unconditional support of Ukraine!”, comments Nicolas Zharov, President of LUkraine asbl.
Luxembourg has become a reliable partner in Ukraine’s resistance since the beginning, and the government has provided €74,4 million in lethal and non-lethal equipment in 2022. Luxembourg Army is also participating in the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine), which provides training to the Ukrainian Armed forces personnel, and up to 5000 Ukrainian refugees are hosted in Luxembourg.
Last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs of Luxembourg donated eight ambulances to the “Ukraine is Calling” project.
Ukraine is Calling, a LUkraine asbl initiative aims to raise €10 million to buy 112 fire trucks and ambulances to support Ukrainian emergency services and the medical system. The organisation has signed a memorandum of cooperation with The State Emergency Services of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. The campaign started in Luxembourg but has now spread globally to other countries. As of now, 22 rescue vehicles have already been sent to Ukraine in the frame of this campaign.
LUkraine asbl expresses its deepest gratitude to the Luxembourg government and its citizens for their unwavering support of Ukraine in the resistance against Russian aggression and their generous contributions to the initiatives that help Ukrainians in these difficult times.
Press contact:
Inna Yaremenko: inna.yaremenko@ukrainians.lu
Photos – Julia Yamkova
