Ukrainian ambulance hit by gunfire during the conflict parked in the center of Bologna

Bologna, 18 April 2024 – It was parked in Neptune squarein the heart of Bolognaa few steps from the Town Hall and in front of the shrine of the fallen partisans, the Ukrainian ambulance with the signs of the artillery shells with whom she was riddled during the ongoing conflict in the country. She has cracked windows, headlights and mirrors and was honored with a bouquet of yellow carnations And a flag of Ukraine.

To greet his arrival, the mayor of Bologna, Matteo Lepore, Don Mykhailo Boikoparish priest of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic church of Bologna, and the director of the diocesan Migrantes office, Monsignor Juan Andre’s Caniato. In the afternoon, a prayer in the Byzantine rite was offered in memory of all the victims of the war. Many members to the Ukrainian community present, mostly women, who participated in the prayer in the pouring rain, with an umbrella in one hand and a lit candle defying the wind in the other.

After touring half of Europe, it arrived in Italy on 6 April

The ambulance comes from the region of Kharkiv, has already crossed all of Ukraine and several European countries, including Luxembourg, Belgium, England, Austria and Slovakia. Last April 6th she arrived in Italy: the first stop was in Modenatomorrow and the day after tomorrow it will be exhibited at Bologna.

The history of the ambulance and its meaning

The vehicle, in September 2022, was targeted by missile bullets and shrapnel While provided assistance. The ambulance is part of the ‘Ukraine is calling’ campaign launched by the Luxembourg non-profit organization ‘Lukraine’ with the aim of collect donations for the purchase of 112 new ambulances for Ukraine. To date, 72 have already been purchased and sent. “We pray for the Ukrainian people who are suffering, that they will find the strength to endure this war. This ambulance it is a message of relief and hope“, said Don Mykhailo Boiko, while Monsignor Juan Andre’s Caniato underlined that “the ambulance is right in front to the shrine of the fallen in another war for our freedom” and explained: “We wanted to say a prayer for the victims of the war in Ukraine”.