‘It’s not simply a news headline’: Warwick student gears up for 1,300-mile humanitarian drive to Ukraine

First-year student Oliver Ansell-Hodges will begin his journey ‘driving for Ukraine’ today as part of a convoy of local volunteers transporting vital humanitarian aid to the country.

Ansell-Hodges, who studies History and Politics, spoke to The Boar about his motivations for undertaking the 1,300-mile journey, which will take him from Warwick to Leżajsk, on the Polish-Ukrainian border.

“A lot of my dearest friends and loved ones are Ukrainian,” began Oliver, “so it’s something that’s always been on my radar as such. However, beyond donating and having been to Ukraine a few times, there was never any coordinated level of support from my end.

“The thing that motivated me to embark on this charity drive was, about a month ago, a three-year-old Ukrainian boy was killed in a playground by a Russian missile strike, and that made me just so angry.”

Here, Oliver alluded to events on 4 April, when a Russian strike on President Zelensky’s home city, Kryvyi Rih,  killed 18 people, nine of whom were children.

It’s not simply a news headline, or something you might read about. It’s something very personal

Oliver Ansell-Hodges, first-year History and Politics student

“And then a few days later,” Ansell-Hodges continued, “I woke up to messages on Telegram from some of my friends that said that houses opposite their flats had been bombed and destroyed. And I thought, gosh, it really does [bring home] how close this war is. It’s not simply a news headline, or something you might read about. It’s something very personal.”

“I find that public support for Ukraine has waned since Ukraine’s counter offensive,” Oliver said, reflecting on the need to continue publicising the eastern European country’s struggle, “so it’s quite a big challenge to get people out and involved. We need to maintain that involvement in the public, and we need to raise Ukraine within the public consciousness. I felt this needed to be publicised on all fronts to ensure as many people as possible could be involved.”

Ansell-Hodges will be travelling with a group of local volunteers from Leamington-based charity Belveder and LKQ Euro Car Parts on his three-day journey to Ukraine.

Belveder’s commitment to humanitarian aid for Ukraine has seen it deliver 43 ambulances and first-response vehicles to the country, along with 200 tonnes of critical medical supplies secured through public donations.

Dawid Kozlowski, on whose behalf Oliver has organised a GoFundMe fundraiser, has been instrumental to the Leamington Aid for Ukraine appeal since the inception of the 2022 full-scale conflict

The organisation’s website explains that “these essential vehicles are not only crucial for transporting medical supplies and personnel but also play a vital role in providing immediate medical assistance to those affected by the ongoing crisis. Our dedicated team works tirelessly to ensure that these vehicles reach the front lines, helping to save lives and support communities in need”.

The charity’s secretary, Dawid Kozlowski, on whose behalf Oliver has organised a GoFundMe fundraiser, has been instrumental to the Leamington Aid for Ukraine appeal since the inception of the 2022 full-scale conflict.

Centred around the Leamington Polish Centre, the appeal has also provided English classes to Ukrainian refugees and immigrants living in Leamington Spa.

Kozlowski was awarded the BBC CWR Make a Difference award in 2023 for his volunteer service, and has been accompanied on several convoys transporting ambulances to Ukraine by Matt Western, MP for Warwick and Leamington. 

Oliver’s 1,300 mile journey from a Warwickshire warehouse to the Ukrainian border will see him traverse six countries over three days.

As for what the convoy will carry, he told The Boar: “We’ll be transporting surgical equipment, medical supply structures, all those sorts of things that can be used for civilian communities that are affected by Russian missile attacks.”

The funds raised [from the GoFundMe appeal] will go towards purchasing essentials for the military and for besieged populations, such as Kevlar vests, stretchers, tourniquets, and ventilators

Oliver has been able to raise £1,560 at time of writing from 85 donations through his GoFundMe page ‘Driving for Ukraine’ – among these, two £100 donations.

The funds raised will go towards purchasing essentials for the military and for besieged populations, such as Kevlar vests, stretchers, tourniquets, and ventilators.

Ansell-Hodges added: “The SUV – and primarily the ambulances that we’re driving over there – will be used on the front lines for different brigades, particularly in the east of Ukraine. And they’ll be using these [to transport] fallen soldiers and bodies of the wounded for burial in central and eastern Ukraine. 

“And, more generally, the vehicles will be used for any medical purposes in the field, because Ukraine has struggled to source medical and humanitarian resources, particularly after the invasion, so the public and communities around the world have come and stepped up to fill that void.”

Returning to the journey ahead, Oliver explained how those driving in the convoy will be switching drivers halfway through each day’s schedule, driving six hours each before reaching hotels along the route where they will rest during the evenings. 

[In the convoys are] a wide range of people with a lot of different specialities, but they’re all united in one cause, which is to help Ukraine in any way possible

Oliver Ansell-Hodges

“It’s going to be emotionally intensive, I’m sure,” he said, noting how he believes he is the youngest person to have joined one of these convoys. “But all the volunteers are excellent, and I’m sure there’ll be lots of memories to be made.

“Usually it’s made up of retirees and those who dedicate their time, but also people who have jobs and lives who take time out of their busy schedules in order to help. It’s a wide range of people with a lot of different specialities, but they’re all united in one cause, which is to help Ukraine in any way possible.”

The recent news that Ukrainian societies at both University College London (UCL) and Lancaster University were suspended for independently purchasing drones for the Ukrainian military has prompted conversation over whether international support should be sanctioned when Ukraine remains locked in an existential struggle against Russian aggression.

Offering his perspective on the importance of UK Ukrainian societies, Ansell-Hodges commented: “Look, I think that Ukrainian societies across this country have been incredible. We’ve had Ukrainians come over for the last three years now that have really bridged a gap in UK-Ukrainian relations that were almost non-existent I would say, pre-2014, and before the world took an interest as such in Ukraine.

Warwick Ukrainian Society – formed in October 2022 – and Cambridge University Ukrainian Society recently created a fundraiser with Ukrainian charitable organisation ALARM which raised £820 towards FPV drones for Ukraine’s frontline ‘Achilles’ unit

“I’ve always considered these Ukrainian societies primarily as outlets for cultural exchange for Brits like me and yourself to learn more about the country and the people behind what we would just consider as a war zone.”

Warwick Ukrainian Society – formed in October 2022 – and Cambridge University Ukrainian Society recently created a fundraiser with Ukrainian charitable organisation ALARM (Instagram: @alarm_shtab) which raised £820 towards FPV drones for Ukraine’s frontline ‘Achilles’ unit – more than doubling the original £325 target.

The Boar asked for Oliver’s message to Warwick students and those who have supported the fundraiser.

“Well, first of all, I’d like to pay tribute and give a huge thanks to every university student who has shared, who has donated, who has spoken about it or discussed it with their friends. [The volume of donations] really does demonstrate how the Warwick community can come together.

“All sorts of people from across the world have chipped in and donated here at Warwick, and there’s been incredible support from The Boar, from Ukraine society, from people in my home department of History, and those over at PAIS, and I’ve had donations come in at all hours of the day of all sizes from people whose names I don’t recognise and don’t know, but I know they go to Warwick, and my friends tell me who they might be. And it really does touch me.” 

Over three years into the war, it is crucial we continue to show Ukraine that our support is unwavering, and our community stepping up to fundraise for and deliver these supplies shows exactly that

Matt Western, MP for Warwick and Leamington

Ansell-Hodges urged people “to have a look at Warwick Ukrainian society and the excellent work they’re doing on cultural initiatives”. Promoting and attending their events are multiple ways students can do this, he suggested.

“I’d urge everyone, in whatever way they can, to read the news, to check up on the situation, and to raise awareness. But also, go beyond that – try and do something unusual, like a charity run, or make a donation, because it really is that sort of level of support that’s so important to Ukrainian people.”

In a statement to The Boar, Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western said: “I know from having completed two of these journeys myself how valued they are by Ukraine in their efforts to continue to fight back Putin’s illegal invasion. Providing humanitarian aid is as important as military support.

“Over three years into the war, it is crucial we continue to show Ukraine that our support is unwavering, and our community stepping up to fundraise for and deliver these supplies shows exactly that.

“I wish Oliver well on his journey, it is for an incredibly worthy cause.”

Oliver will begin his drive to Ukraine today, and will provide updates on the journey via his GoFundMe page.