Barcelona sends generators and emergency equipment to Kyiv

The equipment Barcelona mayor Ada Colau announced the city would be donating to Kyiv during her visit to Ukraine on December 9 left the Catalan capital in two firefighter vans on Friday.

The donations include generators to help the population face low temperatures and war-caused blackouts, hydraulic rescue equipment, as well as 300 biological protection suits, 100 chemical ones, and 15,000 masks.

Early next year the Barcelona firefighters plan on sending two more vehicles: one with a crane capable of lifting up to 40 tons and a fire truck.

Last summer the city sent two fire trucks in addition to medical and fire extinction equipment, while the council is currently helping to fund 5 aid programs in Ukraine through the Catalan Committee for Refugees, the Red Cross, Farmamundi, Clowns Without Borders and Unicef.

Barcelona and Kyiv, sister cities

Barcelona has taken in thousands of Ukrainian refugees since the start of the war last February and as of September, following Klitschko's visit for the La Mercè festivities, Barcelona and Kyiv are sister cities. 

The Ukrainian capital will also be the guest city at the 2023 La Mercè festivities, and over the next year, both cities will be hosting joint cultural events together.