Two army veterans are set to travel to war-ravaged Ukraine in a hired van filled with essential items for civilians trapped in the carnage. Ex-Royal Marines Airborne paratrooper Keith Lee and Craig Robbins, former Royal Green Jackets, will arrive at Zamosc on the Polish-Ukraine border on March 27.
The three-day mission, which the pals have dubbed Operation Scythian, is backed financially by Sutton Coldfield Christian Centre. They will ferry items, such as medication and food, BirminghamLive reports.
The pair, both directors of help organisation Chosen Veterans Support Group, have the military experience to cope with the warzone. Birmingham-born Keith, aged 44 and father to a 10-year-old son, served from 1997 to 2013 and took part in tours of Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Iraq.
He was with the UN in Somalia and, after leaving the forces, worked as a bodyguard in Iraq. Craig, from Sutton Coldfield, has helped him with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Forty-three-year-old Craig, a father to four children aged between 14 and 22, was in the army for 12 years, serving in Bosnia and Northern Ireland. “I don’t suppose you can count Blackpool,” he laughed, “although it was pretty hairy.”
Keith said: “We have our point of contact over there. A lot of veterans out there are willing to go over there and do their bit by taking up arms. We can help in another way. You have to do something and we have the skills to do something positive. We are digging into our own pockets.”
Craig, a committed Christian, said: “The response from the public has been amazing. They are backing this because it’s a good cause. This has echoes of Bosnia, it resonates with me.
"And we are not the only ones attempting to do something - Sutton Coldfield Rugby Club has a massive campaign. We just want to get out there and do it ourselves.”
On the GoFundMe page, Craig has written: “Hi, I’m hiring a van and taking essential supplies over to the Ukrainian border to help evacuees of Ukraine. For this, we need a small amount of funding to assist us for fuel, ferries and van hire. We will leave on March 26 and return two days later.
"We feel it’s our duty to help those that have been affected by this war. Anything anyone can do to help us help them is much appreciated. Our journey will be documented and fed back on social media along the way.”
Their effort is being supported by Pastor Henry Wattis and his congregation at Sutton Christian Centre. Operation Scythian is particularly in need of: first aid kits, dressings, compresses, plasters, bandages, tourniquets, wound disinfectants, burn gels, micropore tape, saline solutions, nasopharyngeal tubes, burn bands, thermal blankets, sleeping bags, camping mats, blankets, nappies, adult nappies, sanitary towels, wet wipes, Calpol, torches, flasks, thermal cups, camping stoves, power banks, gloves, hats, warm socks, thermal underwear, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, military ration food, tinned food, camping meal pouches.
Donated items can be dropped off at Falcon Lodge Methodist Church, 86 Churchill Rd, Sutton Coldfield B75 7LB. For the fundraising page click here.
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