Mission Ukraine

On the 24th of February 2022 Ukraine was invaded by Russian forces, commencing the “full-scale” invasion that had been on the precipice since the invasion of Crimea in 2014. The brutalisation of Ukrainians and the displacement of these people had a profound effect on me. Not only did I emphasize with the people of Ukraine, I worried about the safety and security of other neighbouring nations in the wake of this invasion. It no longer seemed inconceivable that the safety of Europe was at stake. The support and military aid shown towards Ukraine in the years that followed offered respite in the face of annihilation, however at the turn of 2025 new developments occurred. With the hands of power changing in the West, countries such as the United States no longer believed in fully supporting Ukrainian sovereignty. Large scale cut backs of military aid that Ukraine needs to stay afloat vanishing before them. Disheartened about the disregard for other countries safety from our governing bodies I decided to show my support independently.

In January 2025 I undertook the task of delivering medical aid, power supplies and troop transportation to Ukraine. Joining forces with Mission Ukraine, a UK based charity I made the necessary preparations to drive to Ukraine and deliver much needed supplies. These supplies were gathered in conjunction with Mission Ukraine, helping source medical aid such as Morphine, Codeine and medical apparatus that had been overstocked in the UK since the Covid pandemic. Alongside this, Mission Ukraine helped source a vehicle that the Ukrainian military would find useful to transport troops. The purchase of this vehicle was done through a fundraiser organised by my family in which our local community of friends supported the project in solidarity with Ukraine. Due to the immense missile bombardments of civil infrastructure, supplying power to residents and military personnel is not always a given. Transporting generators and heavy-duty solar powered batteries became imperative on this trip as they could prove to be essential to supporting life in the Ukrainian winter, whilst also powering the devices that the population would use to call for help.

With Kiev as our endpoint, it was arranged to drop our supplies off with two separate military groups, the 27th Separate Tavrian Air Assault Brigade of Mykolaiv and the 81st Separate Slobozhanska Airmobile Brigade. On arrival, members of these units came to meet us where stories were shared and aid was given. The importance of projects such as this became very apparent during this part of my journey, the sobering reality of the experiences these individuals faced were right in front of me, no longer hidden behind my TV screen back home.

The journey home was bittersweet. Whilst the drive across Europe had been long and the constant air-raids had become tiresome, it felt as though my actions would help support Ukrainian lives. Moreover, returning home I had a grand appreciation for the safety and security I was afforded. The support and development of projects such as this are integral to Ukrainian lives and independence, no matter how big or small the mission is. Small actions can make large differences. My support of Mission Ukraine has also continued into 2025, whilst I’m no longer driving a truck across Europe, inspiring and helping support the projects of my friends and family has taken hold. My Father returns to Ukraine with Noah Branigan, a close friend since childhood, to continue this essential work. If you would like to learn more about Mission Ukraine, please explore their website and Instagram linked below. Also, find out more about Noah’s project to Ukraine below.