Trucks of supplies and aid for Ukraine leave from Catalonia

Eleven vans and two trucks carrying aid and supplies will begin a journey from Catalonia to Ukraine between Tuesday night and Wednesday. 

Most are leaving from Barcelona, but one of the trucks has departed from Tarragona. 

An initiative based on Barcelona’s La Rambla boulevard has been coordinating the collection of supplies such as canned food, tea and coffee, clothes, powdered milk, painkillers, sleeping bags, blankets, diapers, toothpaste, among other items. 

The vehicles will cross the continent and enter Ukraine from the Polish border. 

Various aid groups have already been established across Catalonia, and anybody interested can donate material or funds. 

There are collection points on La Rambla, 9, Barcelona; Enric Bargés 9, Barcelona on Saturdays; Pont de Treball Digne, 15, Barcelona; Numancia, 185, Barcelona; the Nostra Senyora del Perpetu Auxili church on Balmes, 100, Barcelona; Josep Miquel Quintana, 69, Esplugues de Llobregat; Elim Pentecostal Evangelical Church, Carrer de Can Torroella, 47, Girona.

Organizers are now especially asking for defence material, such as bulletproof vests and jackets, helmets, anything to improve vision at night, lanterns, USB power banks and portable chargers, powdered children’s food, dried and canned food, and burn cream. 

Spain to deliver military equipment to Ukraine

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Wednesday morning that Spain will directly deliver "offensive military equipment" to the Ukrainian resistance facing Russia's attack. 

Until now, Sánchez had ruled out sending weapons to Ukraine outside the mechanisms of the European Union, which will allocate €500 million to send military aid to the Ukrainians. 

In the Spanish Congress on Wednesday morning, the PM explained the change of criteria, responding to some groups which had "questioned the commitment" of the Spanish government toward Ukraine. 

Sánchez also said that Spain would include Russia on the “blacklist” of tax havens, and warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that sanctions would remain in place until he left Ukraine and "returned to the borders" prior to the invasion.