Priston-to-Ukraine Blog

About

Priston to Ukraine is a group set up by some villagers in Priston and nearby villages, fundraising to buy and deliver vehicles to help provide humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine.

The Priston-to-Ukraine team is incredibly grateful for the support it has already received from the local community, which has enabled the purchase of the vehicles the team will be delivering to Ukraine.

If you would like to support this initiative, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/somerset-to-ukraine.

Scroll down to monitor the progress of the team as they deliver the vehicles to where they are needed in Ukraine.

Progress

Last reported position

Thu 16 Sep: Home (UK) - mission accomplished!

Day 1 - Sat 12 Sep

Left Priston **** early after some very tasty bacon butties. We picked up Rob from the park and ride. First argument happened immediately about the quickest way to Stone Henge!!

We got to a secure yard in Folkestone at 10:30. Eight beautiful Nissan X-Trials waiting. We were allocated our cars and we were off to the ferry - except for one of our party who managed to get themselves in the queue for the shuttle... Crisis averted, we managed to get back to the ferry in time to get an early boat this giving us an extra two hours daylight driving. In the meantime, the rest of the crew had been pulled into extra searches by customs - fortunately, they only found army-surplus thermals, three generators, stretchers and splints.

We had a very civilised ferry journey, being briefed by our leader on the trip details.

We then travelled up through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, before having a beautiful night's sleep just inside Germany (if you ignore the heat, the music from a party in the hotel grounds and the mosquitoes!!)

Day 2 - Sun 13 Sep

Left at 4am (that's not a typo!). Horrendous first two hours drive in the dark, rain and much roadworks while wondering why we weren't still in bed. Far better drive after that, although quite tired by end of day at about 4.30pm.

Traditional Polish soup for lunch was the highlight of the day. No accidents is the main thing. Our clown driver did manage to leave his wash bag behind (there's always one - normally me). A couple of wrong turnings added a few minutes. Mike got stopped by Polish customs but no rubber gloves were used, sadly.

Tomorrow is the big day, as we head into Ukraine. Aiming to get up at a slightly later 4.30am before crossing the border at lunchtime. Let's hope the border guards love us and it only takes one hour rather than six to cross

Day 3 - Mon 14 Sep

The convoy rolled out of the hotel car park at 4:30am under cover of darkness and all cars roughly managed to keep together until the first waypoint.

Thereafter it was largely a long day of driving, highlighted in the main by at least two drivers missing way-points and one other missing the final meeting point and heading to the border by himself - at the wrong crossing. Luckily he managed to turn around in time and join the party.

We were then briefed in huge detail by our leader as to what to do at the border, how difficult it was going to be and the dangers of being incarcerated if we got it wrong. As it turned out, when we got to the border there was no one there other than two rather bored guards who did studiously study our paperwork but we were allowed through the first barrier. At the second barrier there was more investigation, photographs and fingerprints and then finally through into Ukraine where all the custom documentation for the aid was thoroughly checked and copied. One more barrier and we were into Ukraine proper. An hour in total - a record we were told.

From there an hour's drive to Lviv and depositing the cars in a car park with random parking ready for collection. Then some got a taxi and others walked to the hotel in the city centre. Finding a restaurant was a little difficult, but eventually we found a lively one where a small celebration was enjoyed.

Day 4 - Tue 15 Sep

In tne morning we gathered in the car park where we had left the cars the night before, to hand over the vehicles.

On arrival we were met by six military personnel and four civilians. There followed short speeches, hand-shakes, photos and the presentation to us of badges and medals in recognition not just of our gift of the vehicles but also that we had paid for them all ourselves and had money left over to buy some more.

Most of the groups who drive cars over don’t pay for them themselves so the Ukrainian military are hugely appreciative of what we have done, so we felt that all the thanks that we were given should be shared with all those who had given us money for our trip. THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS!

In particular, one of the military, Bogdan, who lost an arm at Mariupol, was highly emotional and very keen to make sure that we knew how grateful they all were. We dispersed after a couple of hours once the vehicles had departed to the front-line primarily for use by paramedics.

During the day we helped out by chopping fruit at the Volunteers' Kitchen, which sends 20,000 meals a week to the front line from Lviv.

In the evening we reconvened with Bogdan and a few others for supper where he again became very emotional about how we and the UK generally are supporting his country.

It was all exceptionally moving and cleared any possible doubt we and our supporters may have had that the vehicles and aid were really needed and appreciated.

Day 5 - Wed 16 Sep

We helped make camouflage netting, which is put over roads and buildings to try to stop drone attacks. This involved tying innumerable pieces of cotton on to makeshift nets, one every six inches, but by the end the effect is a complete blanket offering an effective protection.

Accompanied with the following message:
"This embroidered rushnyk is more than just a gift. ❤️ Every single stitch was embroidered with love, warmth, and sincere prayer. Each pattern holds a piece of the Ukrainian soul, our culture, and our heritage. We wish to present it to you as a token of our deep gratitude for your support of Ukraine, for your kind heart, and for your help. May this rushnyk preserve the warmth of the Ukrainian land and remind you that we sincerely appreciate everything you have done for Ukraine. 💙💛 We thank you from the bottom of our hearts! 🙏❤️"