Brussels’ public transport operator MIVB/STIB is donating 36 retired diesel buses to Ukraine, with deliveries scheduled to begin in mid-September.
The announcement was made during an official ceremony at the Brussels Tram Museum attended by Brussels Minister-President Boris Dilliès, MIVB Chief Executive Brieuc de Meeûs and Ukrainian Ambassador Yaroslav Melnyk.
The vehicles are 12-metre Van Hool A330 buses that entered service in 2010 and 2011. They are being withdrawn from operation as MIVB continues the electrification of its bus fleet.
Each bus has travelled approximately 700,000 kilometres during its time in service, with the fleet collectively covering nearly 25 million kilometres.
Before being transferred, the buses will undergo technical inspections to ensure they are suitable for continued operation. Vehicles that are no longer considered roadworthy will instead be used as a source of spare parts to support the remaining fleet.
The buses are expected to be used to strengthen public transport services in Ukraine. Authorities have also highlighted the possibility of converting some vehicles for humanitarian purposes, such as providing mobile facilities offering heating, communications and essential services during emergencies.
Potential destinations for the donated buses include the Sumy and Chernihiv regions in northern Ukraine, both of which border Russia and have been significantly affected by the ongoing conflict.
The donation follows similar initiatives elsewhere in Europe, including the transfer of buses from France’s Île-de-France region for use in humanitarian and public transport operations in Ukraine.
