A former soldier from Derry is planning an operation to transport aid donated by locals to refugees fleeing the invasion of Ukraine.
One-time Royal Irish Regiment troop Ryan McCready says he has already been inundated with items including clothes and sanitary goods which he plans to get to the Ukrainian-Polish border which has seen an influx of thousands of refugees fleeing the war.
Ryan McCready, an Ulster Unionist Councillor on Derry City And Strabane District Council and a decorated former soldier who served in Afghanistan, said he’s hoping to use his contacts in Ukraine, where he was based in 2015 and 2016, to distribute much needed emergency supplies.
Read more: Belfast appeal for donations for Ukraine refugees
He told MyDerry : “Basically I would like people to donate whatever they can, money, clothing, sanitary items, food and baby items, anything and everything they can think of. I hope to organise a transport delivery either by air, by sea or by road, depending on how much is donated.
“I have many friends in Ukraine from my time serving there with a UK Ministry of Defence operation when I was based in Kiev. It was a tri-service operation involving the army, navy and air force.
“I’ve been in contact with my friends there. For obvious reasons I don’t want to name them but they say the situation is terrifying. My intention is to transport the humanitarian donations to an area on the Polish border close to the western Ukrainian city of Liviv. I have friends on the ground there who will then supervise the distribution of whatever has been donated.
“Donations can be left at the Glendermott Presbyterian Church here locally, or at All Saints Church in Clooney or indeed at any charity shops. I hope to organise multiple collection points. The reaction so far has been amazing. I just started this two hours ago and already my office here in Bond Street is packed with donations.
“Some of my friends in Ukraine are in the armed forces, others are civilians such as linguists. Many of them have taken up arms to defend their country alongside the regular army. They have told me they will not stop, they will not give up.
“I know from my own experience there that since 2015 the Ukrainian government has been modernising their armed forces in preparation for this. They have a very effective and functioning military capability but they’re facing overwhelming numbers.
“People here may think we’re powerless to help, to intervene, but we’re not. There’s going to be a massive number of refugees on the Polish border who will need our help and the best way we can help is by donating what we can to assist them.
“I hope to send out the humanitarian aid within the next week or ten days. It will be a massive effort but I’m confident that the people here locally and the people of Northern Ireland will respond to my appeal.”
Read more: Patrick Vieira calls on FIFA to make right decisions for peace between Ukraine and Russia
Read more: Boris Johnson to fly to region as Russia-Ukraine war continues
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