TWO AMBULANCES full of medical supplies will be taken to Ukraine to help a Hampshire man's efforts against Russian forces.
Paul Buckland, from Boyatt Wood, recently flew to the war-torn country, working as part of an anti-tank team.
He has now enlisted the help of friends Simon Haywood and Russ Fletcher to assist with evacuating the injured from the worst-affected areas in Ukraine.
READ MORE: Eastleigh army veteran fighting in Ukraine tells of surviving Russian rocket attack
A fundraiser was set up on Monday, March 14 and in under three days, its £10,000 target for one ambulance was smashed.
Simon said: "Paul said to me 'we need ambulances.' So we got hold of Russ to set up the fundraising page and we have had a phenomenal response.
"It did so well, I bought a second ambulance.
"It started as getting one ambulance, but because we got such a good response we decided to buy another one.
"Any support was appreciated and our initial target of £10k was passed so quickly."
The two ambulances will be taken to a donation centre in Hull where they will be filled with medical supplies.
Simon and Russ will then catch the ferry on Wednesday and drive across Europe to take the vehicles and supplies to Paul, who says he will remain in Ukraine "until I don’t think that I’m going to be able to positively affect the direction of this conflict."
He said: "I’m not here to make friends, I’m not here to be a hero.
"I’m just here to try to move this conflict in a direction that is the just direction. The way that’s right."
Donations can be made here gofundme.com/f/please-help-us-buy-this-ambulnace-for-ukraine
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