Estonian police handed over 22 vehicles to the Ukrainian Police and the Border Guard Service, including 8 cars personally donated by police officers and volunteers. The official ceremony was held in Lviv on August 1 with the participation of the Estonian Embassy in Ukraine, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, the National Police and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
Estonian police officers and volunteers who brought the cars from Tallinn handed over the keys to 16 cars to their Ukrainian colleagues – 8 Skoda Scala and 8 VolksWagen Amaroc. Other 6 VW Amarocs were received by border guards.
Director General of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board Egert Belitšev emphasized that for police officers, a car is not just equipment, it almost like a member of the family. He expressed hope that these vehicles will help to protect Ukrainian people and defend homeland. He recalled that last year the police already transferred another batch of cars to Ukraine.
“But this time its different because ordinary Estonian people, ordinary Estonian police officers and volunteers donated their own money and time in order to hand over those cars. This is a draw sign of how deep our support to Ukraine is. These cars carry the hopes of Estonians believing in your victory and we will continue standing with you, as we are standing today, until the day victory comes,” said Egert Belitšev.
Deputy Head of the Embassy of Estonia in Ukraine Vahur Soosaar noted that it is important that besides military, economic and financial support of Estonia, also volunteers assist Ukraine with initiatives such as the handing over cars to protect people. “All this contributes to our common victory, because only together we can stand against, fight against and win the aggressor,” added Vahur Soosaar.
First Deputy Chairman of the National Police of Ukraine – Head of the Main Investigation Department Maksym Tsutskiridze thanked Estonia for support and noted that Estonia should become an example for larger European countries, as, unfortunately, they do not help Ukraine as much as it does. According to him, this support from Estonian partners will motivate law enforcement officers to move forward to victory.
The Estonian Delegation was presented with various equipment of the Ukrainian police units and the Delegation visited the “Communication Center “Service 112”.
The delegation laid flowers on the graves of the fallen police officers on the military cemetery of Lviv.
Also, representatives of the Estonian Embassy in Ukraine and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board took part in the ceremony of awarding of certificates at the completion of the Interpol training course and visited buildings of the Lviv State University of Internal Affairs.
