Firefighters drive decommissioned engines 1,500 miles to Ukraine

Firefighters from south Wales have completed a 1,500-mile journey across Europe to deliver eight decommissioned fire engines to frontline crews in Ukraine.

They joined a UK-wide convoy of 17 vehicles, which also delivered three vans, a prime mover, and more than 2,355 pieces of equipment to help emergency workers affected by the conflict.

The five-day journey took the team through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany before reaching Poland, where the vehicles were handed over to the Polish Fire and Rescue Service to be driven across the Ukrainian border.

Kyle Jones, an on-call firefighter who volunteered to drive in the convoy, said: “It was a long five-day journey, but it’s nothing compared to what the people of Ukraine face every day. It put things into perspective, and I’m glad to have made a difference.”

The situation for emergency services in Ukraine remains critical. According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, 481 fire stations have been destroyed since the Russian invasion began in 2022, with a further 106 located in occupied territories.

During the conflict, 122 Ukrainian firefighters have been killed and 629 injured while on duty.

Group manager Darren Cleaves, who organised the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) contingent, said this was the fourth time the service had joined the convoy, which is coordinated by the charity FIRE AID.

Mr Cleaves said: “With these eight appliances, the total number of decommissioned appliances donated to Ukraine over the last four years now stands at over 30. It’s vital that we continue to support our firefighting colleagues by providing the equipment they need.”

Before the convoy left the UK, the volunteers met Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, who thanked the crews for their continued support.

The project is sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government alongside FIRE AID. It brings the total UK contribution to 169 vehicles and more than 220,000 pieces of equipment since 2022.