Ukraine
When war broke out in Ukraine in early 2022, PhysioNet – a UK charity supporting people with disabilities overseas – acted immediately. In April that year, we delivered our first consignment of medical equipment and supplies to a military hospital in Lviv.
Since then we have sent 22 more consignments – the equivalent of 33 shipping containers – directly to Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and beyond.
By partnering with Ukrainian-registered hauliers and drivers, our aid reaches those on the “front line” who need it most, safely and directly.
So far, over 17,100 items – enough to equip at least three hospitals – have been shipped from our depots in North Yorkshire, Cambridge, and Bristol. The total new value of these supplies is estimated at £4.5 million – a remarkable achievement for a charity run by just 100 volunteers, relying entirely on donations and recycled disability equipment.
The challenge we face
Unlike our usual projects, where recipients cover the transport costs, these shipments to Ukraine are fully self-funded – around £5,000 per lorry.
Until late 2023, we received generous support from Rotary organisations, charities, businesses, and individuals. But over the past year, funding has all but disappeared, and no long-term financial backing is available.
We are deeply grateful to Mail Force, the Persula Foundation, and one kind individual who together funded five recent consignments. Since then, PhysioNet has been forced to cover the full cost of the last five shipments ourselves.
Yet the need in Ukraine remains desperate – and we are determined to keep helping for as long as the war continues.
To do that, we urgently need donations to fund transport. Without this support, future deliveries may not be possible.
Anatolly – an unsung hero
On 8th August 2024, Ukrainian driver Anatolly Saliy arrived in Yorkshire, and after running out of driving hours, he was forced to spend two days in a layby before reaching PhysioNet’s depot – where he then helped to load his own lorry.
Later, using Google Translate, we sent him a message of thanks and safe travels. His reply, in Ukrainian, was simple and heartfelt:
“Thank you for helping our people.”
Anatolly has been transporting humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the war began. At the Polish–Ukrainian border, he met two fellow drivers carrying military supplies. The contrast was stark – and deeply moving.
They told him, “We wish we were carrying humanitarian aid instead of weapons.”
As Anatolly drove through Zaporizhzhia, he passed ruined buildings, displaced families, and silent towns – stark reminders of a nation suffering. Despite everything, he looks forward to his next journey – a quiet testament to the power of human compassion.
Help us keep this lifeline open
Every shipment we send carries hope, dignity, and essential medical care for people whose lives have been shattered by war. Without urgent funding, we cannot keep these vital deliveries going.
Your donation – no matter the size – will help cover the cost of the next lorry bound for Ukraine.
Together, we can keep hope alive.
Please DONATE NOW