Heroes return safely from 8th aid mission

“Some of the main roads and motorways had no central median barriers along certain stretches as they'd be used as emergency landing strips and runways by the air force.”

This was just one of many of the effects of war witnessed first hand by Cork humanitarian Neil Vaughan who was part of a six vehicle aid convoy to Kyiv in war torn Ukraine earlier this month.

On the morning of 5 April, in the aftermath of Storm Dave, Neil and a team of brave volunteers from across Ireland set out from Rosslare Port for Dunkirk in vehicles loaded with humanitarian aid.

“The experience was gruelling while it was underway but now that it's over, it's extremely fulfilling,” Neil told the Cork Independent.

“The Ukrainian people had a great welcome for us and integrated us into their lives as if we were related,” he added.

Though getting through the Polish border control was a bit of an ordeal for the convoy, as it has been on previous trips also, there were still small signs of normality present, and even things that reminded them of home.

Neil recalled: “One of the lads was reminded by Ukrainian police at a spot checkpoint to turn on his daytime running lights in a similar style to the gardaí here at home - no real fuss.”

Having arrived safely home on 13 April, Neil said he’s feeling quite drained and that the experience brought back memories of overheard stories from his youth about WWII.

He said: “From when I was small, I remember hearing some of the old people around here speaking of connections working in London during The Emergency and going down into the underground to shelter in tube stations during the Blitz.”

One of the photographs Neil took was of a fireman's grave in the military section of a Kyiv graveyard. He had died in what is known as a “double strike” while responding with colleagues to a bombing.

The drivers, whose ages ranged from mid 50s to early 80s, and who hailed from counties Limerick, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Wexford, Dublin, and Louth, all paid their own way for the journey, which included diesel, tolls, ferries, food, accommodation and flights home.

This month’s “run” was the eight such voluntary mission jointly organised by Ukraine humanitarian groups around Ireland.

The vehicles driven from France into Ukraine were a 2006 LDV Maxus van; a 2003 Iveco box van; a 2018 Peugeot Expert / Tepee van and former taxi; a 2005 Mercedes minibus adapted for wheelchair users; a 2018 Mercedes ambulance; and a 2017 Mercedes ambulance. The vehicles were also donated to medical and emergency services in Ukraine.

Though a dangerous mission, the volunteers, two of which are ex-soldiers and the others highly experienced truck and bus drivers, never felt in any real danger.

“The oldest of us was 80 and he wants to go again!” said Neil.

As it stands, a ninth ‘run’ is tentatively planned for the end of the summer and the volunteers are asking for donations of old vans, jeeps, and pickups, as well as decommissioned Irish ambulances which are hugely useful to emergency personnel working on the frontlines.

“The intention is to keep going over to Ukraine until the war ends,” said Neil.

He added: “Even then there will be a need for help with reconstruction. We are open to business people from the construction industry coming with us if they wish or just providing vehicles nearing the end of their commercial lives.”

To learn more about how to help this cause, email ireland2ukraine@gmail.com, or call or text 086-2500404.