Donations and equipment have flooded in for an urgent humanitarian appeal in Dumfriesshire to help restock soldiers fighting on the Ukrainian frontline.
Members of the region’s Ukrainian community – led by Tatyana Bondarenko and members of Lockerbie’s Ukrainian POW Chapel’s humanitarian efforts – manned an appeal stall at the Planestanes on Friday while The Royal Regiment of Scotland marched through the town.
They appealed to the reservist community (formerly the territorial army) of Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders and Cumbria for donations of second hand or unused emergency and combat survival gear – and were delighted with the huge response.
As well as goods and equipment, the team at the Help the Ukrainian appeal stall received £776 in cash from the public wanting to help.
Dumfries’ Peter Kormylo said: “Lockerbie Ukrainian POW Chapel is pleased to be working with local humanitarian agencies linked to Ukraine and the illegal invasion of the country by Russian forces.
“We are grateful to all the reservists for the equipment.
“Thank you to everyone for your donations.
“The money raised will buy much needed medical supplies for the Territorial Reservists in Ukraine’s frontline along with the equipment.”
He said they are also grateful to the region’s Armed Forced Champion, Archie Dryburgh, and Newstart Recycle in Annan who donated a van full of vital equipment for the appeal.
Archie said: “As part of the Freedom Parade for Royal Regiment of Scotland, we wanted to support our Ukrainian friends on the frontline so we stopped off at Newstart Recycle and received loads of medical equipment thanks to Tony Nisbet and the team in Annan.
“Thanks to the public for all your support.”
Tatyana collects items of humanitarian first aid to help the territorial army reservists in Ukraine and was also given a much welcomed boost by R H Irving Construction Ltd, who are working on the Midsteeple Quarter’s phase one development.
The company’s Ian Wishart and Allister Duff presented Tatyana, this week, with a bumper bundle of first aid kits for the cause.
Mr Kormylo said: “The first aid kits are much appreciated and we are all grateful to R H Irving Construction Ltd for them and they will be going to the
frontline.”
She needs items in camouflage colours – bags, rucksacks, combat clothing, pouches, holsters, gloves, belts, protective pads, slings, glasses, sleeping bags, t-shirts, goggles, hydration packs, military first aid kits and a variety of germicidal and pain killing domestic medicines.
