Dear All,
I am improving, it has only been 5 months since my last blog post!
Since the last blog at the start of July, we have successfully completed 2 more missions, number 13 and 14. Another 4 cars have been delivered to the Army along with 2 Mavic 3 Drones and I do not know how much essential aid.
In between these missions, we have sent thousands of pounds to Olena which she then uses to help buy essential equipment for guys fighting on the front line.
So, what to talk about this time?
Well, cars and the future are going to be the main topic today.
We took our first car over to Ukraine in July 2022, and since then, we have always considered cars to be are the very core of what we do.
However things are changing, as is always the case, and we have to be able to change with them.
New Legislation was introduced by the Ukrainian Government in the beginning of this year which has made donating cars to the Army far harder than it should be. A controversial subject to be sure and much has already been discussed between the various groups who deal with 4X4 vehicle donations to Ukraine. Suffice to say, things are still in a state of flux, and to be honest I can see, for our group at least, a reduction in the number of cars being donated because of this.
We still have 2 cars left to take over, one being the Jeep that was very kindly donated to us by the Landlord of Craigs local pub! The other was purchased over a year ago, and was until quite recently out of commission due to a catastrophic failure of the Turbo! However, once again the boys at Larkhill have saved our bacon and fixed the car.
We are planning on going again with these two cars in March 2025. This seems a long time away, and in fact it is, as for the longest time, we have tried to do a mission every 2 months!
However we need to wait for the weather to improve, but also we need to see what is going to happen over the next few months.
We are often in touch with our many friends who are fighting on the zero line, and to be brutally honest, we are not hearing good news from anyone.
Conditions are harsh, and land is being lost unfortunately.
Over the coming months, I cannot see things improving, however just because we are not there on the ground does not mean we are not helping.
We have closed many collections for fundraisers, for example, a Drone Jamming station, some powerful searchlights, car repairs & personal body armour are just a few that spring to mind.
And this is how we want to continue to help our friends in the Military.
Up until now, we have had the money to do this, but funds are getting low.
And I would like to think, at this very point, you are all asking me “how can we help?”
Of course you are!
And the answer is simple!
There are three things you can do and two of them will not cost you a penny.
1. Tell People about us. Your friends and your family. Do not be shy, tell them how you help this group called Ukraine UK Aid. Ask them to follow us.
2. Tell them about our store! Show them the store, if you have ever bought anything from us, become an ambassador for us!
3. And last, keep buying from us!
All our money comes from the store now, it is the only thing keeping us going. It is incredibly important to us, but even more so to the people in Ukraine who donate the items to us. It enables them to help Ukraine, it keeps the spirit and morale up, and also delivered tangible results!
There are many amazing items on the store for sale right now. Christmas is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate the season of giving by buying a present that will not only bring pleasure to a loved one, but will also do good in Ukraine too.
I will be promoting the store a lot over the next month and a bit, so please accept my apology! But we have much work to do and I really want all of you to be a part of this.
As our friend Olena always says, Together we are strong, and so far that has very much been the case!
As a final part of the blog, I would like to regale you with this tale that started during Mission 13!
This story actually starts on a previous mission when I arrived at Dover Docks to find I had lost my very old and reliable aviator sunglasses. Later I would discover that I actually dropped them on the driveway shortly before leaving home and had actually driven over them!
In any case, it was summer and I knew I would need sunglasses for the many long days of driving ahead of me.
A quick visit to the Duty Free Shop on board the Ferry revealed a mediocre selection, but I managed to find a cheap but decent pair to wear.
Fast Forward to Mission 13, and the hight of summer, we are on the way to Olena to drop off the cars and aid, and we stopped at a small town on the way called Borodyanka. For those who do not know, this town suffered greatly in the initial days of the war in 2022, and we often take new drivers here, as it shows the scale of devastation wrought by the russians.
As I stepped out of the car, my lovely sunglasses literally fell in half and dropped to the floor!
Disaster! It was a typical Ukrainian Summers day, blue skies and bright sun and I had to get a new pair. But here in Borodyanka, the choices seemed even more limited than on the DFDS Ferry!
There were a few small shops, but let say none of the sunglasses were suitable for me!
Dejectedly, I got back in the car, swallowed a few Ibuprofen in anticipation of the upcoming squinting headache and rather sarcastically called out on the radio to the other car “I don’t suppose there is an Oakley Outlet store here?”
To my surprise, Nick responded, what about this place we are driving past?
Tucked down a side street was a Military Shop, we stopped, entered the store and were immediately greeted by the owner!
Oakley Sunglasses I said to her, and she immediately produced the most perfect pair I have ever seen.
How much?
£15 was the reply!!!
Yes I know they are not real, but who cares, I could not have found better if I were standing in the middle of the largest sunglasses shop in the word.
We returned to the store on Mission 14 and were immediately recognised by the owner. This time we had set aside some time to talk to her,
She told us many stories and apologised for the shop as the original stop was destroyed in March 2022, and where we were used to be her store room.
We all spent a lot of money, exchanged details, and I have decided that every time we come past Borodyanka, we will make it a mission to visit her.
This is the most amazing part of these missions. How the strangest of situations can form the most amazing connections with people you would never have met.
If you have got this far, congratulations, I hope I have not bored you too much.
As always, thank you all for your support. Please keep helping us.
We are having a restock of the shop in the next few weeks so please keep checking it. There are so many amazing items we have for sale, I am sure there is something for everyone. And remember 30% off everything with the Code PUMPKIN30
Much Love, hugs and kisses!!!
Ukraine UK Aid
The Mavic 3 Drone purchased with the Flag raffles
27KG of Love! Sent to our friend and brother Andriy.
The two cars, together for the first time!
Just some of the aid we took over.
Operation Pumpkin!
At the Border crossing. The strange looking box is a Diesel Heater, one of two that we picked up on-route.
In Ukraine!!!
We stopped off at a place called Mohyliv-Podil's'kyi. The other side of the river is Moldova. Strange to think, there is peace over the river.
We met up with a friend Andrej who also helps the military. He is pictured on the left holding the flag.
Immediately upon arrival in Ulaniv, we posted off the most essential items to the front line.
The Lady who runs the Army store in Borodyanka. The actual sunglasses mentioned in the blog are on my head!
Outside the store, with our mission flag.
The evidence of war is everywhere in Borodyanka.
Fire extinguishers are very much needed on the front now.
Mission 14 Group shot. From left to right: Craig, Julian, Anna, Olena Elliott, Creg and Nick.
The stars aligned for us this time. We were honoured to be able to meet up with both Andriy and Vova. We could only spend a few hours with them, but it was wonderful to see them both, The following day both were back in position on the front line.
Nick with Andriy and his younger brother.
End of mission drink. All objectives were met.
Catching the train home. Tired and sad, but happy too.