Brussels Firefighters Donate Three Fire Trucks to Kyiv
Brussels firefighters have donated three fire engines to their counterparts in Kyiv, Ukraine, marking the fourth such delivery since the Russian invasion began in February 2022. The donation was announced on July 2, the same day Kyiv endured one of the heaviest Russian missile and drone attacks since the start of the war, killing at least 18 people and injuring nearly 90, according to Kyiv Independent.
A Gesture of Solidarity
The three vehicles, known as autopompes, were loaded with firefighting equipment and emergency medical aid supplies before departing Brussels. The donation brings the total number of vehicles sent by the Brussels fire brigade to Ukraine to 12 since the full-scale war began.
“Behind every donation of equipment, there is much more than a simple logistical transfer,” said Walter Derieuw, spokesperson for SIAMU, the Brussels Fire and Emergency Medical Service, as reported by RTBF. “It is above all a gesture of solidarity between emergency services. We want to concretely support our Ukrainian colleagues, who continue to protect and assist the population in a context of war.”
According to Bruzz, the three vehicles were “loaded with all kinds of firefighting equipment and items for emergency medical aid, to support Ukrainian emergency services as operationally as possible.”
A History of Support
This is the fourth time since Russia’s invasion that Brussels firefighters have donated equipment to Ukraine. The timeline of support includes:
- 2022: Two ambulances, personally delivered to Kyiv by then-State Secretary Pascal Smet and Mayor Philippe Close
- 2024: Three ambulances, two fire engines, and various equipment
- September 2025: Four ambulances, coordinated with State Secretary Ans Persoons
- July 2026: Three fire engines (current donation)
The donations have been made possible through a coalition of partners including the City of Brussels, the Saint-Pierre University Hospital Foundation (Fondation CHU Saint-Pierre), and the cabinet of Minister-President Boris Dilliès of the Brussels-Capital Region.
A Poignant Timing
The announcement of the donation coincided with a devastating Russian attack on Kyiv. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 74 missiles and 496 long-range drones during the assault, with 25 ballistic missiles and 12 drones striking 33 locations across the capital. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described it as the “most massive” attack on the city since the war began.
The timing underscores the critical need for firefighting equipment in Ukraine, where emergency services are not only responding to routine incidents but also to the aftermath of daily aerial bombardments. The La Libre Belgique reported that the vehicles were equipped with all necessary firefighting and medical supplies to support Ukrainian emergency services operationally.
Municipal Diplomacy in Action
The donations are facilitated by the sister city relationship between Brussels and Kyiv, formalized in November 2023. This represents a form of municipal-level international diplomacy that operates alongside national government efforts.
Belgian municipal support for Ukraine extends beyond Brussels. Other cities, including Asse, Mechelen, and Vlaams-Brabant West, have also donated firefighting and emergency vehicles to Ukrainian communities. According to the Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Belgium has pledged €4.488 billion in aid to Ukraine since the invasion.
What’s Next
The three fire engines are expected to make their way to Kyiv in the coming days, where they will join a fleet of emergency vehicles serving a city under constant threat. As the war enters its fifth year, the sustained commitment from Brussels firefighters — who themselves face operational pressures including staffing shortages and high intervention volumes — demonstrates that grassroots solidarity with Ukraine remains strong.
“With this new initiative,” Derieuw noted, “the Brussels fire brigade brings the total number of vehicles donated to Ukraine to twelve.” Whether further donations will follow remains an open question, but the pattern of annual support suggests the bond between Brussels and Kyiv’s emergency services will continue to deepen.