Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Rory Cassidy

Scots airport in fight against Vladimir Putin as soldiers and weapons pass through

Prestwick Airport is playing a key role in the fight against Vladimir Putin.

Several aircraft carrying soldiers, weapons, food, medical volunteers and supplies destined for Ukraine have passed through the hub since the Russian invasion.

Canadian and United States jets have used the site as base to stopover and refuel.

American christian charity Samaritan's Purse also fly a DC-8 cargo plane in and out of the airport every few days.

The group have also set up an emergency field hospital and three medical clinics in Lviv and southern Ukraine.

Two Canadian C-130J Hercules tactical airlift aircraft, like this, are operating out of Prestwick, helping Ukraine in the war with Russia. (Government of Canada.)

The flights head to Poland's Rzeszow Airport, near the village of Jasionka, around 105 miles from the war torn city.

The organisation was set up in 1970 and says it helps "meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ".

More than 3million people have fled Ukraine for neighbouring countries, while more than 7million have been internally displaced due to the conflict.

The Samaritan's Purse plane lands at Glasgow Prestwick Airport last week. (YouTube - Jonathan Winton.)

As well as providing medical relief to displaced Ukrainians, at the Emergency Field Hospital on the outskirts of Lviv, Samaritan's Purse also operates a 24-hour medical clinic at a train station in Lviv.

The charity opened an additional clinic in one of the city's major bus stations, and also operates an Emergency Outpatient Clinic in southern Ukraine.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport is a stopover for United States military aircraft, with nearly 400 US Air Force flights landing there between January 2021 and January 2022.

Air Force One also landed at the Ayrshire airport when Donald Trump was President.

US Air Force aircraft at Glasgow Prestwick Airport. (Ayrshire Post.)

A spokesperson for the Government of Canada's Department of National Defence said: "On February 27, 2022, the Government of Canada announced the deployment of two C-130J Hercules tactical airlift aircraft, along with an air detachment of 40-50 CAF personnel, to contribute to allied and partner efforts in Europe.

"These aircraft, which operate out of Prestwick, have been transporting aid destined for Ukraine from within Europe.

"We are proud of the work our Aviators are doing in this regard."

Prestwick Airport, the United States Department of Defence and Samaritan's Purse were also contacted for comment.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.