Two men from Wolverhampton are organising a fundraising drive to buy a truck to transport wounded Ukrainian soldiers from frontline evacuation points to hospital. The pair, who previously delivered aid to Ukraine in 2022, say the vehicle would be used by Ukrainian forces and left in-country rather than returned to the UK.
Who is involved and what they plan
The volunteers are Steve Morris, 64, and Brian Gunter, 58. They have set a fundraising target of £7,000 to purchase a vehicle suitable for medical evacuation and intend to travel to Lviv, a journey of about 1,300 miles, in late September. The trip is being organised in association with the charity Driving Ukraine, with a proposed departure date of 23 September.
Why they are going and how the truck will be used
Both men say their involvement stems from friendships formed through European buhurt (historical combat competitions) where they and people they know from teams have since been affected by the war. They describe a need for a vehicle to take injured soldiers from remote evacuation points — sometimes reached by remote-controlled tracked rescue vehicles — to where medics can administer first aid and then to hospital.
"One is too many, and more than one is more than too many," Morris said, reflecting on friends and acquaintances who have died as a result of the conflict.
- Fundraising target: £7,000 to buy a truck
- Previous aid delivered in 2022 valued at about £10,000 in goods
- Planned route: to Lviv, leaving around 23 September
Logistics and local context
On their last trip in 2022 the volunteers delivered thousands of small items in Gunter's work van, and on this occasion they say the plan is to drop off supplies again then hand the truck over to the Ukrainian army. Morris intends to share driving duties with Gunter and indicated that after handing the vehicle to Ukrainian forces they would probably return to the UK by train.
| Volunteer | Age | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Morris | 64 | Celebrant; co-driver |
| Brian Gunter | 58 | Sign writer/graphic artist; co-driver |
What this means for Wolverhampton
The appeal is a local example of direct civic action by Wolverhampton residents in response to the conflict in Ukraine. If successful, the project will see a vehicle purchased with funds raised here being used by Ukrainian forces at the front, and the volunteers' approach — travelling in convoy with other vehicles and working with an established charity — aims to combine grassroots support with coordinated aid channels.
Residents who wish to support or learn more should look for details from the volunteers or the charity organising the trip. The men say the work responds to personal connections formed through sport and friendship and is motivated by a desire to reduce casualties among people they know.
