Decommissioned ambulances bring aid to Ukraine

The ambulances arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday 8 October

Two decommissioned NHS ambulances have travelled 1,350 miles (2,173km) to wartorn Ukraine packed full of donated medical and humanitarian aid.

Funds to buy the vehicles and sourcing the gifted items was arranged by Northampton Becket and Towcester Tove Benefice Rotary Groups.

In total, the Northamptonshire charities have sent nine ambulances to the country, which has been at war since its invasion by Russia in 2022.

Steve Challen, from the Towcester group, said: "There's a sense of satisfaction - but also a sense of emotion."

Both ambulances were packed full of medical supplies and donated essentials

The two teams set off on 5 October, arrived in Ukraine three days later - and returned to Northamptonshire on Friday.

Mr Challen said: "Three years of full-scale invasion has had a devastating effect on millions of Ukrainians and those still living there are desperately in need of humanitarian support, as ordinary life remains out of reach."

He said each vehicle, which had covered about 250,000 miles (402,340km), cost about £6,500 to buy and kit out.

They were modified, with some passenger seats removed and a stretcher installed, conveying a total of about 50 tonnes of items to Ukraine, including winter clothing, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, lifting frames, and generators.

The team said the work brought "a sense of satisfaction but also a sense of emotion"

Mr Challen said: "We're always grateful for donations of unwanted medical items or items that have expired but are still clinically useful."

"We're elated that at the success we've had, as we know these items will soon be distributed.

"But there is always a sense of satisfaction but also a sense of emotion."

This year the two ambulances arrived without any issues

Luckily the most recent journey went better than one last year, when another ambulance broke down in Germany.

It was eventually repaired by a friendly German mechanic and made its way across Poland through the night to a planned handover.

The Northampton Rotary club said the charity workers who received the ambulance were "ecstatic".

Last month a lorry packed with furniture from a closed care home was sent to Ukraine's national eye hospital after 30 volunteers loaded it, with the help of the Towcester group.