A minibus owner by the Dnipro Kids charity which is used to transport Ukrainian orphans has been stolen.
The 17-seater Ford Transit van with blue and yellow stripes and the charity logo was parked in the Joppa area in the east of the city when it went missing.
Dnipro Kids was started 20 years ago by a group of Hibs supporters following a trip to watch a match against Dnipro in Ukraine.
In 2022 the charity helped bring children to Scotland when Ukraine was invaded by Russia.
A post on the Dnipro Kids facebook page reads: “It is with sadness that I have to announce that the Dnipro Kids minibus was stolen last week from Seaview Terrace/Edinburgh Road at Joppa.
“It had been sitting on the main road following repairs and MOT at the nearby garage and was discovered missing on Friday evening.
“The registration in BL15FUH and if anyone has seen it, or can remember seeing it elsewhere over the past week, please get in touch.
“We would be grateful if everyone could share this post far and wide.”
Stevie Carr, Dnipro Kids chairman and co-founder, told BBC Scotland it went missing some time over the weekend.
The vehicle had been parked outside a garage by mechanics following its MOT and was last seen by the charity on Friday.
When they went to pick it up on Monday it had gone.
“We are devastated and shocked that someone would steal a minibus with a charity logo so it’s quite clear it’s Ukrainian support and it’s for children so we can’t believe someone would actually steal that,” Mr Carr said.
The vehicle is the charity’s only minibus and is used to transport 52 children to school and other activities.
“The minibus has been invaluable to get them to school and get shopping and hospital visits and dentists,” he added.
“We live in hope someone still has it and they hear about this and they feel guilty about taking a minibus away from children so they give it back.
“Even if they leave it somewhere and alerts us to it that would be helpful.”
Police Scotland have been approached for comment.
