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Ukrainians have acquired billions in army support, together with Patriot missile methods from the Individuals, coaching from the British and a pledge of Leopard 2 tanks from the Germans. Now, they’re getting vehicles seized from Latvian drunken drivers, too.
The federal government of the Baltic former Soviet nation, the place staunch help for Ukraine is partly pushed by fears of a Russian aggression, has already offered important army and different support to Ukraine, together with Stinger surface-to-air missiles. However the pledge of seized vehicles, which can be utilized to ship provides or transfer medical personnel, is a extra unconventional step to assist Ukraine combat off Russia’s invasion.
“They are going to be in higher palms,” mentioned Reinis Poznaks, who leads a charity that was tasked by the federal government to ship the automobiles to Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Latvia’s state income service, which retains data of state property, posted on Fb an image of vehicles loaded on a truck within the nation’s snow-covered panorama, noting that they might “now not be pushed on Latvian roads by their former house owners — drunk drivers.”
The primary batch of vehicles will begin making their strategy to Ukraine on Friday, Mr. Poznaks mentioned. They are going to be transferred to Ukrainian Military models, a hospital within the metropolis of Vinnytsia in west-central Ukraine and a medical affiliation in Kupiansk, within the nation’s east, the federal government mentioned in a press release. Fifteen extra are set to go subsequent week, Mr. Poznaks mentioned.
After Estonia, Latvia spends the most important share of its gross home product in support to Ukraine, in response to an evaluation by the Kiel Institute for the World Economic system, a Germany-based analysis institute. Latvia was a part of the Soviet Union till it gained its independence in 1991, and amongst many shows of solidarity with Ukraine, the nation has additionally torn down a Soviet-era monument in its capital, Riga.
“As soon as once more, we’ve got demonstrated our unity in our help for Ukraine,” mentioned Arvils Aseradens, Latvia’s finance minister. “Each act of help, large or small, brings us nearer to victory on this mindless warfare.”
Mr. Poznaks mentioned that since Russia’s invasion final yr, he and his nongovernmental group, Agendum, had individually despatched greater than 1,000 vehicles that had been both donated or purchased by donations to Ukraine. For Latvians, he mentioned, it has nearly develop into a “new custom” to offer their previous vehicles to Ukraine once they need to get a brand new one.
“We simply do what we will,” Mr. Poznaks mentioned. “Ukraine can be defending us. We’re the following ones in Russia’s plan to revive the good empire.”
Apprehensive that drunken driving violations weren’t lowering, Latvia in November made driving with a blood-alcohol stage over 0.15 % a legal offense and, with courtroom approval, officers have began seizing the vehicles of drunken drivers. The vehicles being despatched to Ukraine are largely older with excessive mileage, however in operating order, the federal government mentioned. Up to now, about 200 vehicles have been seized.
Mr. Poznaks mentioned that his group was choosing vehicles that weren’t in dangerous situation “as a result of Ukraine wants transport, not issues.” However they don’t must be too fancy.
“They don’t want Teslas or new Mercedes in Ukraine,” he mentioned.
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