Liepāja Sells Everything Not Nailed Down to Ukraine, Yet Remains Stronger Than Riga

While Riga is still figuring out where to put its money, Liepāja has already sent everything not nailed to the ground to Ukraine — 665 million euros worth of military support. Given Karosta's scale, this comes as no surprise, since they've long known how to handle military equipment.

Among the items sent are 42 Latvian-made 'Patria' armored personnel carriers, which locals say are stronger than Riga's trams. 'Our Patrijas drive across battlefields better than Riga public transport drives to Daugavgrīva,' comments Karosta mechanic Jānis. 'And the ammunition is also higher quality than what the capital calls "culture shots."'

Liepāja residents are especially proud of the drone coalition that Latvia leads together with Great Britain. 'Our drones fly further than any Riga artist's imagination,' laughs a local manufacturer. 'And unlike the capital's projects, these actually work.' The 50 million euro funding for drones is twice what Riga spends on culture — and the results are visible not just in statistics, but on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, 4,000 Ukrainian soldiers per year are being trained in Liepāja, because as everyone knows, after Karosta school you can withstand any battle. 'If you can survive a Liepāja winter and Karosta discipline, then you can handle any opponent,' laughs a training instructor.