TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese private organizations and fire agencies donated 68 ambulances and fire trucks to Ukraine on Thursday to support rescue efforts in war-affected regions, CNA reported.

At the vehicle donation ceremony, Taiwan Community Care Association Secretary-General Lin Wei-lien (林偉聯) said most of the vehicles are used and had been refurbished before being shipped to Ukraine. He said he hoped the vehicles would support frontline medical care and disaster response.

Since 2023, the association has worked with other private groups on four vehicle donations, including SUVs and trailers, totaling more than 200 vehicles, Lin added.

Taiwan’s representative to Poland, Liu Yung-chien (劉永健), thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for coordinating the donation. He said the Taipei Representative Office in Poland partnered with the Lviv City Council to deliver the vehicles. Liu added that Taiwan would continue to assist Ukraine, underscoring its support for freedom.

Of the vehicles, 26 will be allocated to Kharkiv, while the remainder will be distributed to military units and border personnel across the country. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has been subjected to heavy drone and missile attacks during the war with Russia, which has lasted more than four years.

Kharkiv Deputy Mayor Andriy Moskalenko thanked Taiwan for its long-standing support. Some Ukrainian soldiers attending the donation ceremony gave their unit patches to Taiwanese representatives as a gesture of gratitude.

According to the ministry, Taiwan has donated more than NT$100 million (US$3 million) to help resettle Ukrainian refugees and establish aid funds for Ukraine. It has also provided funding to the Kharkiv City Council for the reconstruction of schools and infrastructure.

The ministry added that it has helped deliver more than 582 tonnes of supplies and medical equipment donated by the Taiwanese public to Ukraine.