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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Mark McGivern & Kris Gourlay

Edinburgh farmers among those taking convoy to Ukraine in massive aid mission

A group of Edinburgh farmers are among those embarking on a huge aid mission for Ukraine.

As well as potato farmers from the capital, others from East Lothian, The Borders, Brechin and Kirriemuir are also heading to the war-torn country with 4x4s spray painted military green.

Having already sent a convoy of 22 vehicles to Ukraine with vital supplies following Russia's invasion of the country, Mark Laird, from Angus, is hoping the initiative could end up supplying 1,000 vehicles.

READ MORE: Edinburgh firefighters tackle car engulfed in flames at petrol station

As the Record reports, Mark has worked in Poland and Ukraine for many years. His Central Plains Group of farmers operating in Ukraine, are now covering the whole of the UK and are scaling up their ambition of supplying vehicles packed with supplies.

Mark, 51, said: "I have strong connections to Ukraine and I really did want to do my bit to help.

"I feel that the people of Ukraine are bravely forming a solid frontier against Russia and their war is one that involves us all.

"The idea about pick-ups is quite simple, as these vehicles can get to the front, to areas where they will literally save lives - and they already have done.

Mark Laird (middle) is leading the huge aid mission. (Daily Record)

"The bulk of the work they will do is getting people out of the east of the country and back to relative safety in the west if possible.

"Sadly, many of the people who are reached will have died but that underlines the dire need for this kind of support."

The initiative's co-founder Vince Gillingham said: "Our first vehicles were quickly moved out to the front line, to places like Bakhmut, where they are making a difference.

"They are performing are quite similar to what you might have expected in the 1940s, managing tough terrain."

Among donations made by Scottish companies is £130,000 worth of generators to power schools and hospitals, which will be shipped out in the next convoy. Another donor also supplied five vehicles.

Supplies such as diesel, generators and blankets are among those being transported. (Daily Record)

With many of the Scottish farmers involved specialising in potatoes, more than £170,000 worth of the vegetables, blankets and diesel cans have already been transported across to Ukraine.

Volunteer drivers are handing vehicles over to the 24th Lviv Danylo Separate Mechanized Brigade, which immediately sprays the vehicles in camo-green and puts them into service within two days.

Co-organiser Dr Keith Dawson said: "The support has been overwhelming and it's hard to explain how emotional it was, as the people of Ukraine are so grateful still for all efforts to help them from outside.

"We have had all kinds of people volunteering, from experienced farmers and business people to young boys who have just passed their driving test.

"Every item we took was valued and had been requested and the vehicles are just almost immediately and they are used hard, so they have been invaluable in the war effort."

Keith said the next convoy will be just over 20 vehicles, full of supplies.

He added: "A big thing is tyres because they roads they are using are covered in shrapnel, so they chew through tyres very quickly.

"We are also moving towards getting vehicles customised to be used as ambulances, kitted out with old NHS equipment and medical essentials."

A Just-Giving account has been set up for anyone wishing to donate funds to help with transport costs: pickupsforpeace@memus.com

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