Didn't see a single drone but more and more vehicle owners are investing in drone jammers - a big square box on the roof with lots of electrics in it. And we think we've got problems! A huge thank you, by the way, to those who have supported Medical Life Lines Ukraine, including the very generous "Anonymous".  Thanks to some of you I have raised over £12,000 since June. Here is an extract of my email to as many donors as I have email addresses for: Our journey was long and tiring – about 1,250 miles – but that was as nothing to the emotions we felt when handing our four ambulances over to the hospitals and search & rescue teams who will be using them.  Each recipient sent a small deputation to show appreciation and to give them a day of R&R.  There was a formal dinner (including salo but not much vodka) and of course many speeches. One team had come straight from the front line, picked up their 4WD search & rescue vehicle (which came with hydraulic cutting tools used to extract people from damaged buildings) and drove it straight back after one of the first responders had told us of what they had to deal with virtually every day.  As they see it their front lines are not only Ukraine’s but those of Europe too. The ambulance I drove will be used by a rehabilitation centre for wounded veterans and at the dinner we heard harrowing testimony from the man who now runs the centre, an ex-POW who spent two years in Russian captivity.  How he was treated was appalling and degrading.  Almost literally inhuman. One of the other vehicles will go to a hospital that specialises in treating limb loss injuries.  This hospital alone has treated over 18,000 victims to date. We started out with five ambulances but one, a mobile treatment centre, sadly broke down en route in Belgium.  Once it is fixed it will be delivered separately.  For those still keen to support MLLU, the repairs for this vehicle will cost around £2,000 and that needs funding.  Once again, here is the funding link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jonathan-callaway-1 Each of the drivers raised well over their £7,000 target and our Ukrainian friends were especially touched that on average each of us had found over 100 donors.  Just knowing that we had such a lot of support behind us was a lift to their morale.  It really was an emotional evening. Before the handovers we had a few hours downtime and managed a trip into the beautiful and historic centre of Lviv.  A visit to the “Church of Tears”, where hundreds of fallen soldiers and civilians were commemorated, was a vivid reminder of the seemingly never-ending toll this war is taking on the country and its people. There is a Church of Tears in every town and village.  Seeing the pictures of some of the children who had lost their fathers – and the messages they left for them – was especially heart-breaking. It seemed unreal to us but life in Lviv goes on pretty much as normal (even the air raid sirens are often ignored).  Kids playing in the fountains, people walking around with ice-creams, bars and cafés full of people, everyone making the best of things.  However, a couple of things stood out – there were very few young men around, some buildings had been boarded up as a protective measure and – unlike two years ago – a lot of vehicles now have rooftop drone jammers. This was a physically tiring but emotionally powerful experience for all of us drivers. I will end by mentioning that the charity is still looking for a couple of drivers for the next convoy in November ... please consider this especially if you still have a C1 licence. Thanks again to all of you

Entire Thread

Topic	Date Posted	Posted By
Back from Ukraine in one piece	13/09/25 19:21:00	Jonathan Callaway
Re:Back from Ukraine in one piece	13/09/25 22:32:00	Steven Rose
Reply	13/09/25 23:28:00	Michael Ixer
Re:Reply	14/09/25 09:49:00	Judy Allen
Re:Back from Ukraine in one piece	14/09/25 10:19:00	Gerry Boyce
Re:Re:Back from Ukraine in one piece	14/09/25 11:08:00	Elizabeth Balsom

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