‘Putin will have to try harder than that in order to kill me'
Peter Jennings, who escaped death after being caught up in an explosion, received the Order of the Gold Star, Ukraine's highest civilian honour, from President Zelensky last year following his ordeal.
He travelled to Buckingham Palace for a garden party last month, where he met the future King and Queen.
The 'once in a lifetime' experience was shared with Ukrainian refugee Tatiana Atananenko.
He said: 'We met with Prince William and Princess Kate, along with Sophie and Edward, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
'They were all there. It was an amazing day. You don't go back twice for that.
'It was a nice honour for me, but it's not really my scene, because I don't like publicity.
'It was more for Tatiana. That was the biggest honour bestowed on her.
'She said to me: 'I never, ever thought, being a refugee, I would be in a position with you to go and see the royal family, going to Buckingham Palace and walking around the gardens, having tea and eating the same food as the King eats'.
'She can't quite get her head around it yet, that she has been to Buckingham Palace.
'I got to meet Princess Kate, she looked absolutely amazing following her cancer treatment.
'You never would have thought she was ill, she looked a million dollars.
'She was so polite and so nice. She had time to listen and talk, not just shake your hand and disappear.
'She was really down to earth. She was a lovely woman.
'Prince William said to me: 'Peter, we are all very proud of you. We know everything about you because we have been told about you'.'
Mr Jennings began organising humanitarian trips to Ukraine in 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion.
He is grateful for the generosity of local people who support his work, especially small businesses in Derry.
On his last trip he visited an orphanage and children's hospital near the front line, where he delivered more than 750 Christmas presents to young people affected by the war.
Earlier in the year, while travelling to the contested region of Kherson in the east of the country, he was blasted out of his lorry during a Russian strike which claimed the lives of three soldiers he had become friendly with — Ivan Kovalenk, Aleksander Shevchenko and Maxim Kravchenko.
Despite being left with permanent injuries to his eyes and a limp, Mr Jennings is committed to delivering on a promise he gave the men.
He said: 'I made a vow that day to the soldiers: 'Don't think you have seen the end of me, because I will be back'.
'To the three soldiers who were lost and their families, I owe it to them.'
Mr Jennings also keeps in touch with President Zelensky, who has become the public face of his country's defiance against the Russian invasion.
He explained: 'I have a lot of time for Zelensky, I actually have his mobile number.
'He sends me a text every once in a while, asking if I am okay, and how my injuries are.
'I think I am the only one in the UK to have the Golden Star.
'They are very rare. It's the biggest civilian award they can give you.
'I am proud of that one. It means more to me than the other medals, it's very special.
'I have got 10 medals — one from Kyiv, a volunteer one, Patriot of Ukraine, one for Bucha, then there's the star, and one for Kharkiv.
'I got one for being injured as well, not that I need a reminder.'
While suffering as a result of his injuries, he insisted he will not be stopped from delivering much-needed aid to Ukraine.
Mr Jennings intends to continue defying of his doctor's orders — and the Russian leader who started the war.
'I am OK at the moment. Ukraine is more important to me,' he said.
'Putin is going to have to try harder than that to kill me.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Red Arrows crisis as iconic display team running out of jets & RAF forced to raid old planes for parts
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Red Arrows are running out of aircraft, The Sun can reveal. The legendary RAF team has 13 working jets and may be down to six by 2028, which would end their trademark 'diamond nine' display. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Britain's Red Arrows are running out of aircraft Credit: Bav Media 8 Their much-loved shows could end up being cancelled due to the ageing fleet Credit: Bav Media 8 They may be down to just six Hawk T1s by 2028 Credit: SWNS Their fleet of ageing jets could see their much-loved shows being cancelled, sources claimed last night. Their creaking fleet entered service in 1974 — and the factory that made spare parts closed five years ago. Engineers have since been forced to cannibalise old planes to keep the best ones flying. A source told The Sun: 'There are no two ways about it — the Red Arrows are running out of planes.' Read more on Red Arrows WHEN IN ROME King and Queen enjoy action-packed day in Rome with Red Arrows flypast The number of working aircraft has dropped from 26 in January to just 17 today. Four are in so-called deep maintenance, so just 13 are available to fly. The massive G-forces in Red Arrows air shows, compared to other 'sedate' fly-pasts, rapidly reduces jet lifespan. The source added: 'Planes can only fly so many shows before they need new parts. "So either they get new planes or they have to cancel shows.' British solution RAF chief Sir Richard Knighton has indicated he wants a replacement for the Hawk 'as soon as possible'. The Sun revealed in April that Russian jets were being considered for the Red Arrows, which have only ever flown British planes since they were formed 61 years ago. Incredible moment Red Arrows jets soar over Buckingham Palace in stunning footage captured from inside the cockpit But sources close to Defence Secretary John Healey insist he wants a British solution. The only UK contender is a concept plane called the Aeralis Advanced Jet Trainer. What message does it send if the RAF can't even field nine trainer aircraft because our politicians can't make a decision on what to buy? RAF source An RAF source said: 'The whole point of the Red Arrows is to be RAF ambassadors and to showcase British industry. 'What message does it send if the RAF can't even field nine trainer aircraft, or can't perform a full season of shows because our politicians can't make a decision on what to buy?' 8 RAF chief Sir Richard Knighton wants replacements 'as soon as possible' Credit: Rex 8 Just 13 of the jets are currently available to fly Credit: SWNS 8 The G-force in Red Arrows' shows reduces the jets' lifespan Credit: SWNS 8 The Red Arrows fly over The Mall during the King's Coronation Credit: Getty The Hawk T1s are due to retire in 2030 while the Hawk T2s — which train RAF pilots — will go out of service in 2040. Ex-RAF Air Marshal Edward Stringer said pilot numbers have also been cut and warned the plane shortage is 'a symptom of a much bigger problem'. An RAF spokesperson said last night: 'The Red Arrows will continue to use the Hawk to perform its much-loved displays each year. "We continue to work closely with industry partners to ensure the fleet is maintained.'
Business News Wales
an hour ago
- Business News Wales
UK Government Confirms £14.2bn Investment to Deliver Sizewell C
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said the UK needs new nuclear to 'deliver a golden age of clean energy abundance' as the UK Government announced a £14.2 billion investment to build Sizewell C nuclear plant. Ten thousand jobs will be created , the UK Government said, including 1,500 apprenticeships. It added that the funding would also support thousands more jobs across the UK. The company has already signed £330 million in contracts with local companies and will boost supply chains across the UK with 70% of contracts predicted to go to 3,500 British suppliers, supporting new jobs in construction, welding, and hospitality. The equivalent of around six million homes will be powered with clean homegrown energy from Sizewell C. The announcement comes as the UK Government is set to confirm one of Europe's first Small Modular Reactor programmes. Taken together with Sizewell C, this delivers the biggest nuclear building programme in a generation, it said. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 'We will not accept the status quo of failing to invest in the future and energy insecurity for our country. 'We need new nuclear to deliver a golden age of clean energy abundance, because that is the only way to protect family finances, take back control of our energy, and tackle the climate crisis. 'This is the Government's clean energy mission in action- investing in lower bills and good jobs for energy security.' The UK opened the world's first commercial nuclear power station in the 1950s, but no new nuclear plant has opened in the UK since 1995, with all of the existing fleet except Sizewell B likely to be phased out by the early 2030s. Great British Nuclear is expected to announce the outcome of its small modular reactor competition imminently, the first step towards the goal of driving down costs and unlocking private finance with a long-term ambition to bring forward one of the first SMR fleets in Europe. Small modular reactors are expected to power millions of homes with clean energy and help fuel power-hungry industries like AI data centres. The UK Government said it was also looking to provide a route for private sector-led advanced nuclear projects to be deployed in the UK, alongside investing £300 million in developing the world's first non-Russian supply of the advanced fuels needed to run them. Companies will be able to work with the UK Government to continue their development with potential investment from the National Wealth Fund. The UK Government is also making a record investment in R&D for fusion energy, investing over £2.5 billion over 5 years. This includes progressing the STEP programme (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), the world-leading fusion plant in Nottinghamshire, creating thousands of new jobs and with the potential to unlock limitless clean power.
The Herald Scotland
5 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Cammy Day complaints raises safe-guarding council issues, report says
The investigation focused on how the Council handled any allegations made, the policy and procedures in place to deal with similar types of allegations and what improvements could be made to safeguard against any inappropriate behaviour in future. The report makes a series of recommendations around the council's complaints procedures and whistleblowing policy with a focus on the safeguarding of victims. It comes after former City of Edinburgh Council leader resigned at the end of last year after two Ukrainian refugees who had settled in the city told a newspaper he repeatedly sent them inappropriate messages on a dating app. Since then, other complaints about Mr Day were revealed by the press. However, the former council leader has since been cleared of criminality in a separate Police Scotland investigation and has claimed he has been subject to a political plot against him. The inquiry published today by the council, however, found there is "no doubt" there is a "significant perceived power imbalance" around the complaints being made to Edinburgh City Council about the "alleged unwanted behaviour" of the former council leader. READ MORE: Cammy Day's conspiracy claims 'really wrong' says ex-Labour colleague Cammy Day probe widened to include all historic complaints The inquiry involved a detailed review of council policies, reports and other documents, webcasts of council meetings and 35 structured interviews. In his report, the author, Mr Dunion, who was appointed to the task in February, writes: "There which have apparently been reported up the management chain, such as alleged unwanted advances being made to junior staff but being treated as gossip, or concerns about a social relationship with a young member of staff being formed, but a procedural response taken, based around the narrow legal requirement for safeguarding." As part of its remit, his report considered whether the safeguards in the Council are sufficient to prevent behaviour such as that alleged in relation to Councillor Day occurring. Mr Dunion states: "The question has been posed in my remit as to whether the safeguards in the Council are sufficient to prevent behaviour such as that alleged in relation to Councillor Day occurring. "In short, the answer is no." Kevin Dunion (Image: supplied) He recommends further consideration of councillors' conduct, their interactions with staff and the appropriateness of some social events in the City Chambers. His comments come as in his review, he notes: "Several councillors and staff interviewed have commented adversely on this prevalent culture of hospitality, which can be taken to excess and have suggested that this practice cease completely." The report also includes a review of a 2018 complaint which involved a 15 year-old boy who was alleged to have been groomed online via email by the council leader and invited to his flat with "sexual intent" in 2010. Even in 2018, the complainant said he remained "fearful" of retaliation if the councillor concerned was made aware he was the complainant, according to the report. As is stated in the report, the complaint was not shared with the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer. Commenting on the council's handling of this, Mr Dunion states: "There are some inadequacies in the handling of this complaint. "The seriousness of the claim of potentially criminal behaviour by a councillor, who might be the Deputy Leader, is such that the emails should have been shared by the Council Leader with the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer. "They would then have been in a position to decide whether to contact the police or been able to respond to enquiries from them, had the complainant contacted the police as advised by the Business Manager." Mr Dunion also goes on to point out that the email containing the complaint mentioned the 15-year-old had previously suffered sexual abuse. The investigator states: "This was information which should have been provided to the Council, to decide whether to conduct its own enquiries." He adds: "An unintended and unexpected consequence of not sharing the complaints with the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer, and retaining the email exchanges only in the individual mailboxes of the recipient, meant that they became vulnerable to loss, and thus significantly diminished the quality of evidence once a report was made to the police." Later on in his recommendations, Mr Dunion highlights the need to properly record complaints. Mr Dunion does, however, find that a complaint made to the Chief Executive in relation to Councillor Day in December 2023 regarding a Ukrainian refugee was "properly considered and investigated in line with the Council's policies and procedures." He also notes that the handling of the two whistleblowing disclosures made in 2023 were "well-handled and properly considered in line with the Council's policies". Recommended measures to improve the complaint system include improved awareness by councillors and staff of what constitutes bullying and harassment and a need for clear routes of the complaint, with expectations as to line management response. Mr Dunion also recommends greater emphasis on providing HR support for staff experiencing poor behaviour from councillors and better record keeping of complaints, informal as well as formal, so that patterns of poor behaviour may be recognised. He also suggests there should be a review of the whistleblowing policy and role of Whistleblowing Sub- Committee. Responding to the review, Chief Executive Paul Lawrence said: 'I want to thank Kevin Dunion for leading this sensitive review and for his report, not least given the complexity of the brief and tight timescales. 'I know this must have been challenging and a difficult experience for many people and I particularly want to thank those who came forward to be interviewed or provided information to the review. Your input is very much appreciated." Subject to approval by councillors next Thursday, the council is expected to bring a further report in August outlining their "proposed actions" in response to Mr Dunion's recommendations Mr Day led the city council's minority administration from 2022 and was deputy council leader for the five-year term preceding that. Concerns surrounding his behaviour had been raised twice through the council's external whistleblowing service, and directly with his former senior coalition partner, the SNP's Adam Nols-McVey. Following this, councillors unanimously agreed to commission a review of how all complaints were handled. Police also opened an investigation into an allegation of inappropriate behaviour against the 50-year-old. However, the police have since said their enquiries uncovered no criminality. Following the allegations, Mr Day claimed to have been the victim of a 'political attack' co-ordinated by his opponents in the City Chambers. Asked if she shared Mr Day's view the allegations that led to his resignation were part of a political plot, Council leader Jane Meagher told The Herald she was unable to comment, however, she did say there were people who want to "undermine" others. Ms Meagher said: 'I don't feel I've got enough information about that. 'I think that inevitably in politics there are people who work away to undermine, but I don't want to make any comment about that. What I want to say is that I am really looking forward to having the former council leader back in the party. 'He's been cleared by the police. I am so looking forward to welcoming him back because he's a very experienced and committed councillor." Pressed on whether she had concerns about the behaviour alleged in various press reports, the Scottish Labour council leader said she "prefer[s] to go with facts rather than allegations.'
