So far we at Vans Without Borders (powered by your generosity) have helped thousands of desperate and vulnerable Ukrainians who have become impoverished as a result of Russian aggression.
We plan to return to Ukraine in a 'Grand Operation' to deliver tonnes of aid to communities in need on the frontline. We need your help once again to achieve this as currently, we lack vehicles. Since launching we have donated several of our vehicles to the Ukrainian army in an effort to assist them in their work protecting front-line communities from the Russian threat.
So far we have donated one Nissan Navara truck, a Nissan Pathfinder SUV and a private van to the Ukrainian army to assist them in their work protecting the Ukrainian people. We also with partners have acquired a former NHS ambulance which we will be donating imminently to a Ukrainian hospital.
While this is vital to our mission it has left us in a quandary where we only have one humanitarian vehicle left - our flagship van. Our van is essential to transport large amounts of aid across Ukraine, but we need 4x4s to keep our team safe at the front. The roads in Ukraine are perilous and are riddled with potholes and bomb craters leaving them unsuitable for larger vehicles. We have already spent over £2000 repairing our van due to the damage it has sustained in Ukraine.
A decent 4x4 with suitable tyres costs us between £3000-5000, and when we are finished with them we will donate it to the armed forces to maximise the use of the vehicle. We plan to purchase two 4x4s for this operation - we need two vehicles in case one has difficulties or becomes disabled. The cost of bringing a vehicle on a round trip to Ukraine costs between £1000-2000.
The stakes have also risen for us, as our team is now facing an increased risk due to an online troll posing as a journalist contacting the Russian Embassy in Britain which has led to them stating that the Vans Without Borders team is now a 'legitimate target' for the Russian Army. This will not however deter us from our vital mission, as if we don't continue our work people will starve to death which we can not allow.
The communities we visit do not have running water, heating, electricity and access to shops and are completely reliant on what little aid reaches them. It is therefore vital we do everything in our power to help them.
We need to continue providing aid to desperate regions such as the Donbas and Kherson, as well as affected areas in the rest of Ukraine.
Alongside vehicle costs, we need to raise funds to provide food and supplies to those in need. Two weeks' worth of food for an average village of 60 people costs £3,000 - which doesn't include logistical costs. The desperate villagers are worth every penny as they have suffered as a consequence of Russian aggression for over a year.
With your help, we can continue to make a real difference.