Prague rolls out tram in Ukrainian colors for humanitarian aid fundraiser

A tram painted in the colors of the Ukrainian flag of yellow and blue will run on Prague streets for at least the next six months. Prague Deputy Mayor Zdeněk Hřib and Ukrainian chargé d'affaires Vitalii Usatyi officially introduced the tram by pouring sparkling wine in front of it and making a toast. Both of them commented on the urgent need to continue helping Ukraine in its struggle against the Russian invasion.

By introducing the tram, Prague is joining an international fundraising effort called United24, which was launched by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy. The side of the tram has a QR code that people can use to donate money, which will go to defense, clearing mines, medical assistance, rebuilding Ukraine, education, and science.

The tram, which also sports the hashtag #standwithukraine, will run mainly on the 22 line, which goes through the city center and stops at many of the main tourist destinations.

“With this step, we are joining the campaign that is already underway in several European cities, whether it is Vienna, The Hague, Vilnius, or Riga,” Hřib said. He added that the campaign could be extended beyond six months, but he hoped the conflict would be over by then.

“The effort is to draw attention to the United24 platform, which allows people to safely contribute to the support of Ukraine, whether for humanitarian aid, reconstruction of the country, demining, or directly for the defense of the country against the Russian genocide that is currently taking place there,” he added. He also said he hoped Ukraine would win the conflict with Russia.

This is not the first step for Prague to aid Ukraine, nor will it be the last. The city, for example, has already sent buses, trams, and diesel heaters to Ukraine, and supported the efforts of the People in Need foundation.

Chargé d'affaires Usatyi thanked Prague City Hall for the initiative, which he called a symbol of the friendly relations between Ukraine and the Czech Republic, and for the city’s “constant and unwavering support of Ukraine and temporarily displaced persons.”

Jan Šurovský, a member of the board of directors of the Prague Public Transit Company, said it was significant that a T3 model tram was selected. The vintage model, still the backbone of Prague’s fleet, was made in Prague but has been widely used in Ukraine. “These are still the dominant vehicles that can be found in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other cities in Ukraine,” he said.