Credit: Jazmin Campbell / Chronicle.lu
On Friday 9 December 2022, LUkraine asbl officially inaugurated its latest awareness-raising art installation: a damaged fire engine from Ukraine set up in front of the Philharmonie Luxembourg.
The damaged vehicle made its way from the Kyiv region to Luxembourg with the help of LUkraine asbl and will remain on public display at 1 Place de l'Europe in Luxembourg-Kirchberg (L-1499) until Wednesday 28 December 2022. After this date, it will move on to its next destination: in front of the European Parliament buildings in Brussels, Belgium.
On 19 March 2022, this particular fire engine was involved in a mine explosion about 20km from Kyiv's city centre, while on its way to respond to Russia's bombing of civilian infrastructure. All eight of the first responders inside the vehicle suffered serious injuries as a result of the explosion.
The fire engine installation forms part of LUkraine asbl's global fundraising campaign, "Ukraine is calling", which launched in October 2022, and follows the installation of a damaged ambulance from Ukraine in Esch-sur-Alzette. The aim of this campaign is to support emergency workers who are risking their lives every day in Ukraine amid Russia's invasion, by raising enough money to purchase 112 equipped emergency vehicles for Ukraine. More information about the campaign is available on the website: ukraineiscalling.com.
The official opening ceremony on Friday brought together LUkraine asbl committee members and volunteers, as well as various ambassadors and elected officials and members of the Luxembourgish and Ukrainian communities. LUkraine asbl Vice President Inna Yaremenko explained the significance of this installation, which represents "a piece of war" and serves as a reminder to people in Luxembourg of what is currently happening in Ukraine.
LUkraine asbl President Nicolas Zharov thanked Luxembourg for its support over the past ten months but stressed the need for continued support; he compared the situation in Ukraine to running a marathon rather than a sprint - a marathon "where a Russian tank is following us" - and asked that onlookers join Ukrainians in their efforts. Reflecting on the broader "Ukraine is calling" campaign, he recalled that people were fighting for their lives every day and others were trying their best to save lives - which is why emergency workers are at the heart of this campaign. He noted that not many fire engines survive the shelling: more than 2,000 emergency vehicles have been destroyed since the war began. He thus emphasised that "it is up to us to give the means for our heroes". Nicolas added that this fire engine installation in Luxembourg served as "physical proof of Russian aggression". He went on thank Luxembourg once again for its support but reiterated the need to maintain momentum. He expressed his hope that LUkraine asbl would achieve its mission of raising enough money to purchase 112 emergency vehicles.
