Convoy heads for Ukraine

A CONVOY carrying almost two tonnes of aid collected from across Plymouth is on its way to Ukraine – with generous donors giving everything from medical supplies and sleeping bags to Christmas shoeboxes for children.

- ANDY PHILLIPS

Two vehicles towing caravans left Plymouth over the weekend, both packed with donations, including around 50 shoeboxes which will be given to children for Christmas.

It is the latest trip organised by businessman Andreas Evangelou, who has already made seven trips across Europe and is being joined this time by Maksym Litvinov, a Ukrainian forced to flee Kharkiv by the invasion.

Both caravans will be staying in Ukraine, and one is going to the front line itself – and has been painted in camouflage colours so it can be dug in and used as accommodation for troops.

Mr Litvinov said rainfall has meant that many Ukrainian soldiers are ending up sleeping in trenches which are filling with water during rainfall. He has been collecting sleeping bags for troops, as well as medicines, medical supplies and crutches to help amputees who have lost limbs because of a Russian tactic of laying landmines which are being fired into Ukrainian territory.

Mr Litvinov said he was very grateful to many donors across Plymouth who had stepped forward to offer help.

Among them, city residents have collected almost 50 shoeboxes and delivered to various points, with children at Sir Robert Geffery’s School in Landrake, Cornwall, contributing.

Elsewhere, around 20 survival jackets from Dartmoor Search and Rescue were collected by staff at Turners of Roborough motor sales, which has also been a collection point for donations.