Torbay’s MP Kevin Foster MP joined colleagues from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Ukraine, on a cross-party basis, to deliver a convoy of humanitarian aid to Ukraine & visit some of the areas near Kyiv affected by the fighting over the last year.
Starting from London on Sunday 19th February, Kevin joined Conservative Colleague Scott Benton and Labour MPs Alex Sobel and Anna McMorrin, to drive a convoy of aid vehicles across Europe to Ukraine. The MAD Foundation charity organised the trip which coincided with the first anniversary of Putin’s Second invasion of Ukraine.
Given the security situation in Ukraine, those taking part were advised not to publicise details of this trip until they had returned to the UK. The whole trip lasted 7 days, with stops in Dortmund, Berlin and Krakow on the way to Ukraine, plus 2 long overnight journeys on a Ukrainian Sleeper Train.
The group delivered a range of supplies, including medical equipment and de-mining tools. They also dropped off a generator at a village close to the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv and the Belarus border. The group was the first delegation of foreign MPs to visit Chernihiv since the 28 day siege by Russian Forces was lifted last year.
On arrival in Kyiv, the group joined with a larger delegation of British MPs attending a conference in Kyiv to support Ukraine and attended a meeting with the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament. They were hosted by their counterparts in the APPG for the UK in the Ukrainian Parliament.
Visits to the former front lines in Irpin and Chernihiv gave a first-hand view of the impact of the conflict and the ferocity of Putin’s attack on Ukraine. This included seeing the damage caused by Russian air strikes on the local Primary and Secondary Schools, plus the destruction of the local hospital and housing.
Kevin Foster MP said:
“Standing in the classroom of a damaged school building or looking at a devastated apartment block it is clear to see the impact of this war. Yet the morale of the Ukrainian people is high, with a determination to see their current troubles through to victory. Lviv and Kyiv were bustling and full of life during the day, with the odd air raid siren not causing panic on the streets, but simply reinforcing a sense of the determination to resist.”
“As a group we were determined not just to attend meetings and formal events to mark the first anniversary of Putin’s attack, but to do something practical as well. Hence I linked up with my colleagues across the political divide to take a convoy of needed aid and a vital generator to Ukraine as part of our visit.”
All Kevin’s travel, accommodation and security arrangements were co-ordinated with the relevant local and national authorities in Ukraine. Given the current conflict anyone thinking of travelling to Ukraine should consult the Foreign Office Travel Advice available at: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine
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