Donated Pickups: Vital Support for Ukraine’s Front Lines

A Black Mitsubishi Warrior, bearing mud splatters and bullet holes, stands in the car park, hinting at its recent operational history. Inspecting the damage to the driver’s door, Oleg Lutsyk remarks, “This could be a shotgun.” He adds, “But I think it was from a mortar, some pieces from the mortar or artillery ammunition that got inside the vehicle.” Pointing to smaller, rounder perforations further along, he confirms, “This one is for sure from some shotguns.” This particular pick-up sustained multiple direct impacts while transporting Ukrainian troops from the battlefield during their conflict with Russia. Oleg is part of the crew engaged in repairing it for redeployment to the front line. The vehicle arrived in Ukraine last year as part of a convoy organized by the Scottish charity Pickups for Peace. Subsequently, it was provided to Ukraine’s 80th Air Assault Brigade, a unit instrumental in leading the Kursk offensive as Ukrainian forces advanced into Russian territory. The pick-up played a crucial role in evacuating soldiers from the combat zone. Mr. Lutsyk noted, “Fortunately, all the soldiers who were there are alive.” He further stated, “Maybe some of them got a little injured. But everything is OK with them.” Originating from Norfolk, the pick-up was transported across Europe by Keith and Ultan, a father and son duo who characterized their journey as “a rollercoaster of emotions”. This vehicle is representative of a continuous influx of donated vehicles delivered to the country to bolster the war effort. The charity, established by farmers in Angus, Peebles, and Wiltshire, has now facilitated the transport of 500 such vehicles from various locations across Scotland and the wider UK. Additionally, another Scottish charitable organization, Jeeps for Peace, has dispatched over 360 vehicles in nine distinct convoys, while a third group, Car for Ukraine, has contributed 4x4s from Wales as part of this collective endeavor. Volunteers from Edinburgh, Perth, and Islay delivered the most recent convoy this week, bringing the total number of drivers and passengers who have undertaken the journey to more than 800, ranging in age from 18 to 85. These vehicles have been utilized in rescue operations, evacuations, and anti-drone activities, with the involved charities asserting that they have now saved thousands of lives on the front line. Andriy Kovalskyi, who serves as the head of the Lviv District Military Administration, ensures the smooth movement of these convoys and prevents bureaucratic delays as they cross the border. He emphasizes that while the vehicles are vital for the troops, their impact extends beyond mere military assistance. He explains, “British citizens come personally as drivers within the convoys, acting later as ambassadors for Ukraine, witnessing the state of war in this country.” Although Lviv is comparatively safer than many other Ukrainian cities, it remains susceptible to missile and drone attacks, a reality experienced by the volunteers. He recounted, “Quite a few times they themselves had to go downstairs to the shelter in the hotel they stayed at.” The Lviv administration has actively supported the transit of UK vehicles through the city and onward to the battlefield, with the car park outside its headquarters serving as a significant handover location. Here, volunteers deliver the vehicles and meet some of the soldiers who will deploy them. Following speeches and a brief ceremony, the vehicles are almost immediately put into combat. Derek Fleming, who was born and raised in Aberdeenshire and Moray but has resided in Ukraine for the past 25 years, has been involved in the movement of nearly every convoy. He commented, “When they are handed over all the cars are in very good shape.” He added, “Some cars are 15 years old but they are mechanically sound… and they go to different battalions. “Some, directly the next day, head off to the East.” Specific information has emerged regarding the destinations and utilization of these vehicles. Seven were provided to the 2nd Drone Brigade of Ukraine’s National Guard, which has deployed them to aid in the defense of Pokrovsk, a critical transport hub that has experienced intense combat in recent months. An additional 25 vehicles remained with the Air Defence Forces of Western Ukraine, tasked with intercepting Russian attack drones threatening Lviv and its vicinity. In Avdiyivka, located in eastern Ukraine, one of these vehicles successfully rescued a group of Ukrainian soldiers who had been encircled before the town was devastated and subsequently fell to Russian forces at the close of February this year. Among the 4x4s that arrived earlier this year was a blue Ford Ranger, driven from Northumberland by two volunteers, Jeff and John. Jeff, a British Army veteran, remarked, “Having spent most of my life in the military it was good to be able to help other soldiers in a small way.” Despite its 14-year age, the Ford appeared relatively new. As it traversed the Ukrainian landscape, a yellow AA sticker was visible on its windscreen, and a white sticker on its rear indicated its UK origin. Just weeks later, it was reduced to a burned-out shell. Phone footage captured by individuals on the ground following a grenade attack outside Pokrovsk depicted its complete destruction: the paint had been entirely incinerated, most of the exterior was obliterated, and the interior was charred, though fortunately, no one was injured when it caught fire. These images serve as a stark reminder for the staff in Lviv as they diligently work to dispatch more vehicles to the front. Andrey Ohinok is a member of a seasoned group of Ukrainian drivers known as the Jackie Chan Volunteers, who transport the pick-ups to the battlefield when regular troops are unable to. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining the mobility of their combat comrades. He states, “The more mobile they are, the more of them stay alive.” He is not alone in articulating the significance of their work in direct, yet impactful, terms. Ira Savka assists in coordinating the charity’s operations in Lviv, including the distribution of over £3 million in aid that has progressively arrived within the vehicles. She comments, “We hope we are doing the right job, at the right time for the right cause.” A short distance from her location, a scene vividly underscores the mission, the moment, and the purpose for the city’s residents. At the military cemetery of the Field of Mars, a vast expanse of yellow and blue flags waves over the graves of Ukraine’s war dead, a sight that continues to expand weekly. As the full-scale conflict approaches 1,000 days, it stands as a grim testament – if one were needed – to the immense cost this war has already exacted upon their nation.