“With this additional transport of aid, Austria is showing its solidarity with the suffering population of Ukraine,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner on March 13, 2022. “A wave of willingness to help is sweeping through our country. I would like to thank the people in Austria for their huge commitment. We must master the current challenges together, united and determined.”
Over 10,000 helmets
The aid transport, consisting of three trucks loaded with 10,000 protective helmets, 116 ballistic protective vests and 1,500 wound dressings, left Austria on March 12 and 13, 2022 and is on its way to Ukraine. The destination of the Austrian delivery is the city of Lemberg in western Ukraine. The protective helmets come from the army’s stocks, the protective vests from the stocks of the Ministry of the Interior. They are intended to protect employees of civil rescue organizations in the war zone.
“In line with the core tasks of providing ‘protection and assistance’, we also want to do this within the framework of neighborhood assistance and support the Ukrainian civilian population in protecting themselves better,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner. “In return, 18,000 soldiers of the Federal Army will receive new combat helmets. The previous models will be handed over by the troops and handed over to Ukraine as humanitarian support for the civilian population.”
Overview of the previous aid deliveries to Ukraine
So far, Austria has sent six trucks to Ukraine as part of the neighborhood aid, divided into three transports loaded with surgical and hygiene material. The three trucks that left Austria on March 12 and 13, 2022 are the fourth delivery of aid to Ukraine.
A fifth aid delivery is planned. Eight tankers, loaded with 200,000 liters of diesel fuel, were offered by Austria through the Ministry of the Interior. The delivery of fuel is planned to be phased in from March 13, 2022 to the Uzhhorod region of Ukraine.