Delivering aid to Ukraine 'changed things inside me'
A man who has delivered aid to Ukraine four times said his experiences had "changed some things" inside him.Ian Russell, 35, from Coningsby, Lincolnshire, said he had supplied 20 tonnes (20,000kg) of aid to families, animals and people on the front line since his first trip in 2023.He said his deliveries had included long-life bread to troops, a washing machine in the city of Sumy, and aid to animal shelters.He is now appealing for help to get a new van after his previous vehicle broke down on his return from Sumy with driver Bob Dutcher on 18 April.
Mr Russell works as a tour manager for musicians. He said he was homeless for three years from 2020 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.He decided to deliver aid in 2023 after seeing a BBC video about a girl trying to flee Ukraine.Carrying just a backpack, he flew to Krakow, in Poland, and then crossed the border to Lviv, in western Ukraine, to meet a friend and offer his help. "At this point I was just a guy that wanted to help. That cascaded into me meeting proper aid workers," he said.
During his most recent trip, from 14 to 22 April, Mr Russell delivered aid across Ukraine in a van donated by the Kharkiv Satellite Rotary Club.He was joined by Mr Dutcher, an American former software executive, whom he had met on a previous trip.The pair delivered aid to a non-profit group in Kramatorsk, a city in eastern Ukraine which has been hit by Russian missiles during the war.They also helped animal shelters and orphanages near Lviv and Kyiv, as well as rehabilitation and recovery facilities for soldiers.Mr Russell entered the country just a day after Ukrainian authorities said at least 34 people were killed and 117 injured, including 15 children, in a Russian missile attack on central Sumy.He said his experiences during the trip had "broken" him. "I had hours where I was just crying. Most of the time actually over really positive things."Watching people dancing and singing during an Easter parade "in effectively a war zone" was particularly moving.
"This trip has definitely changed some things inside me," he added. "The joy in people's eyes just because they're getting a duvet or some cat food, I can't imagine what they go through."Mr Dutcher said the trip was "the most personally rewarding and impactful" thing he had done, while Mr Russell had "the biggest heart of anybody" he had met.Mr Russell is trying to raise about £4,000 for a van to use during future aid trips."I just really hope we can get the money for the van and I can help a lot more," he added."If that does not happen, I'll switch back to flying to Krakow with a backpack full of tourniquets, go to the frontline and hand them over myself."
Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Fire breaks out at fish and chips shop in Brown Edge
Fire crews have been battling a blaze at a fish and chip shop. Flames broke out at Sandy Lane Fish and Chips in Brown Edge, Staffordshire, on Sunday a post on X shortly after 15:30 BST, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said four crews were sent to the scene on Sandy Lane, and urged people to avoid the area.A fire service spokesperson told the BBC nobody was hurt and it was believed the blaze started accidentally, although a cause had not been identified. Firefighters had since left the scene, the spokesperson added. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Edinburgh Live
4 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
American tourist in Edinburgh cannot believe their luck after 'spotting royalty'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An American tourist in Edinburgh could not believe their luck as they spotted Princess Anne travelling down steps in the city centre. The royal family member was understood to be on her way to Princes Street Gardens alongside the council's Lord Provost Robert Aldridge on Saturday July 7. The tourist explained how they had missed their tram only to spot the princess as she awaited their next ride. Sharing their discovery on TikTok, account Thistle&Prairie, said: "Missed the Tram in Edinburgh but turned around and saw Princess Anne entering Princes Street Gardens. "Not everyday you see royalty as an American." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. The Princess Royal was in the capital to unveil a bronze medallion depicting Queen Elizabeth II in the Gardens. The unveiling was attended by many former Royal Scots and their families as well as members of The Royal Scots Club and representatives of the City of Edinburgh Council. A service of dedication was conducted by Reverend Dr Iain May, Chaplain to The Royal Scots Regimental Association. In 2007, Princess Anne unveiled an addition to the monument to mark the Regiment's amalgamation, the final chapter in its history, and to acknowledge and commemorate the Regiment's 373 years of service. Brigadier George Lowder, Chair of the Regimental Trustees, said: ' The Royal Scots have always been, and continue to be, very proud of their long service to Crown and country which is commemorated on this monument. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the last Sovereign under whom the Regiment served, appointed HRH The Princess Royal to be Colonel in Chief of The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) in 1983. "We have been greatly honoured, therefore, that The Princess Royal, whose long and continued connection with the Regiment we cherish, has unveiled this final addition to our monument today".
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Daily Record
Mum left upset after in-laws call her daughters' names 'disgusting'
A mum has taken to the internet to ask for advice after her in-laws said that the names she had chosen for her daughters were 'disgusting' – but she thinks they're normal Choosing a baby name can be a daunting task given the plethora of options available. Parents often strive to select a name that not only appeals to them but will also suit their child as they grow older. The process becomes even more challenging when family members voice their opinions on your chosen names, particularly if they're negative. This was the predicament faced by one mum who took to Reddit to share her in-laws' harsh criticism of her daughters' "normal" names, which they labelled as "disgusting". Posting on the r/namenerds forum, the woman titled her thread 'Have I messed up?' She then shared: "I (29F) have two daughters and my third (which is a baby girl) is due in a week or so, my in-laws are so disapproving of their names. "I believe my daughters have normal names. My MIL said they are disgusting names. My kids are called Natasha and Julia, normal names right? Not according to my family." She continued: "Me and my husband have agreed on Anastasia for our baby girl. And my in-laws hate it. My side of the family is Russian, I grew up in Russia, my name is Melaniya but I go by Melissa since I live in the US. "My husband and I adore Russian names for our children, hence why they all have Russian names. My husband's side of the family says that it is a selfish decision to just be thinking of my own nationality." Seeking opinions, she asked: "What are your thoughts? I genuinely love my children's names but my husband said it is unusual for children in the US to have these names." Many Reddit users rallied around her, affirming that the names were perfectly acceptable and criticising her in-laws' behaviour. One user responded: "These names are not unusual in the US at all. I think the behaviour of your in-laws is what's disgusting here. I'm not sure where your husband grew up that regular names are unusual to him. I wish you didn't have to deal with such awful people." Another chimed in: "Natasha and Julia are both incredibly common American names. Your in laws just hate you." A third agreed: "Don't waste any more energy trying to appease them. There have been two First Ladies of the USA named Julia: Julia Tyler and Julia Grant and the current first lady is Melania. In-laws are just looking for something to be upset about and this is the best they could come up with." While a fourth added: "'Disgusting?' That's so rude no matter what the name is. But honestly I don't understand the fuss at all, these are extremely 'normal' and common names in the US."
