03/07/2025
What Do Stalin’s Funeral, an Oversized Twin Stroller, and a Midnight Car Race in Warsaw Have in Common?
You might not believe it, but the answer is a RubikusHelpUA evacuation bus.
But let’s start from the beginning!
Everyone knows our evacuations are funded entirely by private donations. Every cent matters—especially recurring monthly donations—because even the smallest amount can help a family escape the war. But our biggest goal? Finding sponsors for our Lviv–Warsaw evacuation buses.
The cost to rent a single bus is €1,200—a significant amount for one person but an achievable sum for a small business. Thanks to one such donation, one of our February buses successfully evacuated 44 people to safety!
A Night at the Theatre That Changed Lives
On October 21, 2024, in Tallinn’s Vene Teater Eestis, a special reading of Arthur Solomonov’s play, How We Buried Iosif Vissarionovich, took place. The proceeds from this event were used to:
✔ Fund the trauma department of a hospital in Uman
✔ Cover travel expenses for 16-year-old Ukrainian Ulyana Primak to Copenhagen for medical treatment
✔ Rent a Rubikus evacuation bus
This bus became a lifeline for those unable to leave via public transport. Despite the fact that most of our passengers are women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, everyone pitched in—lifting wheelchairs, dismantling a giant twin stroller to fit in the luggage hold, and helping elderly passengers on crutches board the bus.
The Border: A Test of Patience and Nerves
Anyone who has crossed the border knows it’s a nerve-wracking experience. And trust us—we’ve seen every reason for unexpected additional checks:
🔹 Worn-out or wet passports
🔹 A grandmother’s ancient icon tucked away in her suitcase
🔹 Work tools mistaken for weapons—knives, blades, or other items that could help someone find a job abroad
And once the bus finally arrives in Warsaw, the next challenge begins—finding overnight housing for a bus full of exhausted refugees. Our Polish volunteers work miracles to piece together last-minute accommodations, often spending the whole evening (and sometimes all night) driving families to their temporary shelters—only to pick them up again in the morning and help them reach their next destination.
New Beginnings Across Europe
The families evacuated on that February bus are now rebuilding their lives across Poland, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and even Scotland. Our coordinators receive heartwarming messages and photos from reunited families, along with endless expressions of gratitude.
And we, in turn, want to express our deepest thanks to Arthur Solomonov and his team for their generosity. Their donation helped make that journey to safety possible!
Become a hero!
We are urgently searching for more sponsors! You yourself, your small business or an art initiative can become a hero and sponsor the next bus. From the bottom of our hearts—thank you for helping us help others.
