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Corrie David

The amazing Welsh people who have gone above and beyond to get aid to Ukraine

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has displaced millions of people and claimed the lives of thousands.

Poland has taken in a majority of the refugees with Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova, and Romania also taking in hundreds of thousands between them.

Worldwide people have donated clothes, money, and other aid to help those in need but there are a few in Wales who have gone above and beyond to help.

Read more: Wedding venue chef takes two-month break to work in Ukraine

Business owners, farmers, and ex-soldiers are just some of those in Wales who have got stuck in.

Here are some of their stories.

David and Ceri Carlyon

Ceri and David Carlyon drove aid to the border and have sent four vehicles since (David Carlyon)

David Carlyon and his wife Ceri from Abergavenny, owners of ceramic design company Welsh Connection, met Ukrainian Yaroslav Viktoria years ago at a trade event. Their connections through business and scouting "forged our link," David explained. After hearing of the conflict in Ukraine he reached out to his friend to see how they were doing.

"The information they gave was that they needed things really desperately and really specific things – things that they needed to keep them safe during the conflict."

Though noting aid agencies were doing a great job collecting donations David said he and Ceri were in a position to get a very specific request to a very specific location.

Because the infrastructure in Ukraine had been so damaged David said: "They needed four-by-four, very, very robust, vehicles to be able to drive kits and equipment out to people around Ukraine that needed it. Then things like protective equipment and very specific medical supplies."

Ceri and David Carlyon transported two 4x4s to the Ukraine border (David Carlyon)

The two decided they didn't have the time to hang around because the situation was so desperate. They bought two vehicles and put out a plea to anyone who could help source the equipment they needed and left within 48 hours of receiving Yaroslava's call.

"We left to pick up the trucks in the north of England early Friday morning, drove back to Usk to stock them all up, then went straight down to the ferry for the early hours of Saturday morning."

They were also made aware of a biologist from a British university who was desperate to get back home to his wife in Ukraine so picked him up from the M25 services and took him with them.

At the border the couple met up with their friends and found some men wanting to go back into the country. "We handed the car over to the guys that were willing to go back in and they drove across the border."

The couple's efforts didn't stop there however. Since flying home the couple has partly turned Welsh Connection into a logistics company and organised the transport of a further four vehicles packed full of supplies. Three Ukrainians in Britain were also able to use the vehicles to return home.

Their help doesn't stop there either and a crowdfunder has been set up to help get the aid to people on the ground. "We need the funds to be able to buy the kits and equipment that is needed – helmets, body equipment., range finders, torches: all of the things that people that are literally fighting for their life need on the ground."

Dave Leeke

Dave Leeke is leaving his home, job, and dog to help in Ukraine (Dave Leeke)

Dave Leeke is giving up his job and his home for two months and leaving his dog behind in order to contribute to the support efforts in Ukraine.

On Monday, March 14, the 40-year-old from Felinfeol will be flying to Lublin, Poland, where he will meet up with a charity, Stowarzyszenie "Czajnia", to take him across the border.

"With the build-up of the troops on the border I was sure that something was going to happen so I'd already decided that if something kicks off then I want to go and help," Dave said. "I just wanted to do something good."

Upon arrival at the border Dave will begin working with charities to transport both supplies and people both in and out.

"They've got a warehouse out in Ukraine so they take supplies to that and then they work alongside a Ukrainian organisation.

"They then load all the stuff up and take it out to other places, where it's needed the most, so that's what I'll be doing."

If you would like to help David to purchase the supplies needed take a look here.

Nathan Jones and Dominic Davies

(Nathan Jones)

Firefighters Nathan Jones, 29, and Dominic Davies, 24, from Crickhowell, made the impulsive decision to fly to Medyka in the south east of Poland earlier this month.

Speaking to WalesOnline from a small tent at midnight, 500m from the border where he describes swathes of freezing mothers and their children approaching him, Nathan said he has been overwhelmed by what he is seeing every day.

“It’s unimaginable that what I’m seeing here is happening in 2022,” he said, preparing himself for more hard graft which is likely to last until well into the night before a four-hour sleep in a hired car. Then it starts all over again.

“So far today I’ve fed 5,000 people. There is a team of eight of us. There are many brilliant volunteers here, from the US, France, Italy, Germany, but it is not enough. [Refugees] just keep coming.”

Nathan said after being "gripped by the news" while watching TV he decided to help out.

“I had a week off work and I had a chance to come out here and make a difference.

“I told the lads at the fire station that I wouldn’t be in this week and Dom said he was coming with me.

“I went on Facebook trying to find the best place to come to help and a lot of Polish people were telling me it was here where many would need us.

“I came here prepared to do anything and within 10 minutes of being here a lorry turned up. The people seemed to be struggling getting stuff off the lorry so I approached them and asked if I could help and it’s all gone from there.

“We’re in a team of people volunteering for World Central Kitchen serving food on the main strip out of Ukraine."

He added: " I’m hoping to raise money to make sure I can return to Medyka with more supplies like warm clothing. What has really struck me is how freezing the refugees are here.” You can see Nathan’s fundraiser here.

Keiran Murphy

Keiran Murphy with his son Oliver (Keiran Murphy)

Ex-serviceman and dad-of-one Keiran Murphy has travelled on a one-way-ticket to Poland amid the invasion of Ukraine.

Keiran served in the British Army for 10 years but left five years ago and had since re-trained as a chef.

However on March 4 where he headed towards the Ukrainian border to support troops. The 34-year-old , who also served in Afghanistan, said despite no longer serving in the military he felt compelled to offer his skills, NorthWalesLive reported.

Keiran said: "When I signed up to work in the military I agreed that protecting lives is the most important thing and that doesn't change when you leave.

"I put in an application to the embassy because I've got qualifications and certificates to work internationally and I've got the skills to help people. I'm conscious that my family are anxious and upset but there's a bigger situation at play here – there are millions of people displaced and things are just getting worse."

Keiran, who lives in Ruthin, said he was one of 15 British ex-servicemen flying out. Kieran's decision was a difficult one, as he had to leave his 11-year-old son behind. He said: "He's aware of what's happening and is understandably upset. But when he was three months old I went to Afghanistan and I was away a lot so he knows that his daddy has to go away to help people.

"It is difficult because I don't know when I'll be coming back but there are children there too who are part of this awful conflict."

Llŷr Jones and Rhys Jones

Llŷr Jones, of Derwydd farm, rears lambs and store cattle, and has a large free-range egg unit (North Wales Live)

Two sheep farmers, Llŷr Jones and Rhys Jones, from Conwy and Gwynedd, are embarking on a drive from north Wales to Poland with the aim of supporting the Ukrainian resistance in the war against Russia.

Llŷr hatched the scheme after seeing a plea for 4x4s by a Ukrainian farmer he follows on social media. He bought a vehicle out of his own pocket for £2,000 and enlisted his old friend Rhys, who owns farms on the Llŷn Peninsula. for support.

The pair left on March 10 and plan to drive the vehicle, full with medical aid, to the Ukraine border where they will then hand it over to a friend who is ready and waiting and fly back on Sunday evening.

"We don’t want to mess around – just go there, drop off the vehicle, and get back," Llŷr, 42, told NorthWalesLive.

"I need to be back before the end of the month because that’s when lambing starts."

He added: "We need to get the vehicle there as fast as possible before the Russians started moving into the west of the country, which is where we’ll be leaving it. The last thing we want is for the Russians to get their hands on it."

As young men the pair founded a charity called Cam Wrth Gam (Step by Step) which organised annual mercy missions to disaster-struck regions of the world.

The car will carry military-grade medical supplies, paid for by the charity., with the car and flights underwritten by the two men themselves.

You can find their donation page here.

Know someone who should be on this list? Email me at corrie.david@walesonline.co.uk

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