A couple of weeks ago, Jeff, a volunteer from the UK pulled into town with a vehicle packed to the ceiling with aid. We received it as per the instructions of the sender and got the pkgs labelled as such to those who were waiting for them here in Kyiv. Then there was the question of the truck itself: no one on the ground could tell me where it was meant to go…

Earlier that morning I’d had a conversation with Serhij Chaus, the mayor of Chasiv Yar. Serhij remains in his community and is helping the civilians and our defenders there and everywhere. His vehicles had broken down and with the front playing with boundaries and its proximity to Chasiv, he was in dire need of a set of wheels. 

In little more than a year, Serhij and I and everyone at UP have forged a relationship that breaks the barriers of time or space or even logic. We help each other in the most significant of moments and the most innocent of ways. It is truly a friendship I will value forever. 

My message to Stephan, one of the crew connected with Reading Ukrainian Community Centre, instrumental in getting this vehicle to Ukraine from the UK, was simple, but to the point: “likely, you already have a place for this vehicle. But in the off chance it has not been spoken for, I have a need.”

He said to me, “you’re on the ground, you know better where this vehicle should go, you decide.” I sat on the call dumbfounded. Speechless. In awe. 

The next days were spent with the mechanic, getting the vehicle road worthy, and off I headed. Through the magical planes of Poltava, where I had the first flat. With the help of a stranger who pumped me up just enough to roll into an CTO (auto repair), I sat quietly while they glued up the small puncture. Refusing to take money, knowing what we were doing and where the truck was headed, we hugged and selfied and I was off again. 

I got as far as the outskirts of Kharkiv before the same tyre tired out again. Artem to the rescue, he got me sorted until I arrived in Kramatorsk Monday last week. Tuesday in Kram tells another story…

That Monday evening, I met Serhij and passed along the vehicle. And she has been in grand operation ever since. (We had no time to name this one. If you have any suggestions, we’ll take them on board 😉). 

We never really know what we’re capable of or what is possible until we try or even ask. The community of people who continue to make not just Ukrainian Patriot a better crew, but the country of Ukraine a safer and more secure and supported place to call home, is growing, yes. But what’s more important is that it’s growing with the right people who care so deeply about the future - our collective future, and that is an amazing thing to be a part of. 

Thank you to Focus Auto in Poltava; to Шиномонтаж in Kharkiv; to Stephan and Andriy in the UK at the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre; to driver Jeff; and to everyone else who played their part in getting this vehicle to the front. 

It amazes me constantly the things we accomplish when we work together. And this is just one small story out of millions. You’re all просто чарівні ✨

Light and love y’all 💙🕯💛

See you soon.