A Peterborough group is delivering supplies to Ukraine for the 25th time

They say the mental traumas of the war will last a lifetime

Author: Aaliyah Dublin Published 19th Aug 2025

A group in Peterborough, who deliver supplies to Ukraine, say the mental traumas of the war will last a lifetime for people there.

That scar is going to last for generations

It comes as tomorrow six of their volunteers will be setting off on their 25th delivery.

They will be delivering life saving vehicles that will be used on the frontline to evacuate wounded troops.

It's a drop in the ocean compared to what they need

Richard Astle from the Helping Our Ukrainian Friends group said:

"We will be picking up three 4x4 vehicles and driving them to Ukraine, and then we will hand them over to medical units where they will be used on the frontline evacuating casualties."

"In some respects it's a drop in the ocean compared to what they need."

"There's a huge shortage of those vehicles in Ukraine, and they desperately need them."

"There are two things here. One is the physical material; we deliver. Those three cars are really important."

"But then the fact we are still taking things to them and the fact we are still supporting them is psychologically just as important."

"The mental trauma of that nation going forward is going to be huge."

"Children who have grown up with the sound of bombs and that threat of fatality to their family, that scar is going to last for generations."

The mental trauma of that nation going forward is going to be huge

Whilst on his last trip to Ukraine, Richard met two teachers who had to leave their home.

"Their properties were destroyed; they came under shell fire. They fled from their home; they lived on the floor of a school for a year, and now they teach all their classes online because their pupils are scattered all over the world."

After this trip, the group will have delivered a total of 10 4x4 vehicles to Ukraine.

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