Dorset Businessmen Deliver Supplies To Ukraine

Two businessmen from Dorset have driven a vehicle full of supplies to the east of Ukraine to help the people suffering in the war and narrowly missed a lethal drone strike.

Jonathan Stretch from Douch Family Funeral Directors and Andy Selby, who runs a building firm in Wareham, travelled almost 2,000 miles.

They donated the vehicle along with 70 kilos of medical supplies, a generator and handmade blankets and knitted toys made by volunteers from the ‘knit and natter’ groups run and supported by the Douch Family Funeral Directors.

The pair drove from Dorset across Europe and then right across Ukraine to Dnipro, in the east of the country.

Jonathan said:

“Andy had wanted to do this for a while and when the Ford Ranger became available he bought it and we decided to go. We were able to fill the vehicle with supplies including lots of medical equipment donated by a local hospital."

“We also took a generator and lots of beautifully knitted blankets and toys made by volunteers from our knit and natter groups. It was lovely to be able to take something hand made for the children."

“Rather than dropping everything off in the west of the country we decided to drive 800 miles across Ukraine. We missed a drone strike at a railway station that killed 15 and began to understand the fear of Ukrainians who live with that threat every day."

“They were extremely grateful for the supplies and when we delivered the medical equipment they only took what their hospital needed."

“Andy and I are already hoping to make another journey and would welcome any donations or practical support that could help us do it again.”

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and then in 2022 invaded Ukraine but were surprised by the resistance.

A war of attrition developed during which has led to the deaths of 450,000 Russians and 150,000 Ukrainians.

Photo: Andy Selby, left, and Jonathan Stretch, right, deliver supplies to Ukraine