Thanks to the great willingness of the people of Aachen to donate, another aid transport set off for the Ukrainian twin town of Chernihiv at the beginning of May. On board: two urgently needed emergency vehicles, a minibus with a ramp for the disabled and a vehicle for the municipal depot. The loaded truck transport started at the municipal depot in Liebigstraße - supported by the dedicated team of Aachen's municipal services.

The delivery is part of the funding program "Civil Protection and Reconstruction in Municipal Partnerships with Ukraine", which is implemented by the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The city of Aachen has been in close contact with Chernihiv since the beginning of the partnership in order to provide targeted support. The current relief supplies are to be used in the northern Ukrainian city for reconstruction work and to support the municipal infrastructure. In December 2023, a complete set of playground equipment and several fitness machines were brought to Chernihiv.

"I am always impressed by the solidarity of the people of Aachen. With their support, we can provide concrete help and show our support: Aachen stands firmly by the side of Chernihiv. The relief supplies are a sign of our active partnership and a contribution to reconstruction that gives hope and perspective," emphasized Lord Mayor Sibylle Keupen at the handover of the vehicles.

The transport was organized by the experienced "Blue-Yellow Cross" association, which has already accompanied numerous aid deliveries to Ukraine. It was implemented in close cooperation with GIZ, which is responsible for the organization on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Several vehicles and extensive equipment have been handed over since the partnership began in 2022.

The city of Chernihiv, located north-east of Kiev, has been severely damaged since spring 2022. In December of the same year, the Aachen City Council unanimously decided to establish an official solidarity partnership. Since then, the two cities have maintained an ongoing exchange and are working together on reconstruction.

Aachen remains firmly at the side of its twin city and continues to stand up for concrete help and active solidarity.