Paul Tovey, a British volunteer, isn’t content with simply watching the war in Ukraine unfold. He’s driven over 3,600 miles, repeatedly braving danger to deliver critical aid – from essential baby milk to rugged four-wheel drive vehicles for the Ukrainian military. But his latest delivery is perhaps the most ingenious yet: wheelchair motors, repurposed for a desperate, vital purpose – bolstering improvised air defense systems against relentless Russian drone and missile attacks.
The urgency of his missions became starkly clear as he arrived in Ternopil, western Ukraine, amidst a political firestorm. Former President Trump was publicly advocating a peace plan that many Ukrainians view as a surrender, suggesting Kyiv cede land to Russia. Tovey’s conversations with locals revealed a resolute determination to fight on, a refusal to accept what they see as a betrayal. They’re bracing for a future where reliance on American aid may no longer be guaranteed, and are pleading with European leaders to step up.
He witnessed a powerful, heartbreaking scene in Ternopil – a spontaneous outpouring of grief as a funeral procession for fallen soldiers moved through the streets, with onlookers falling to their knees in silent respect. This single moment, Tovey says, encapsulated the unwavering spirit of a nation defending its very existence. It’s a spirit he feels compelled to support.
Tovey, a 60-year-old from Kent, isn’t delivering just supplies; he’s offering a lifeline. His current trip includes a van, vital medical equipment, and practical military gear like camouflage and boots. He travels with a small team, planning to reach locations across southern Ukraine and Kyiv before returning home. He describes the gratitude he receives as overwhelming, but dismisses any notion of heroism.
“I feel it’s my duty to help,” he explains, a father to a 30-year-old son. “Their young men and women are holding the line so my son doesn’t have to fight. I’m not brave, but this is all the Ukrainians can give back, and I accept it with humility.”
The aid Tovey delivers is coordinated through the international Gift of Life charity, working tirelessly on the ground. Dmytro Maksymenko, the charity’s director, paints a grim picture in a recent video. He remembers the shock of February 24, 2022, the day the war began, his mother’s desperate call, the disbelief that such conflict could erupt in 21st-century Europe.
“People are getting tired, more and more,” Maksymenko admits, his voice heavy with sorrow. “We are losing our best sons on the battlefield. Our infrastructure is constantly under attack, our economy is almost destroyed, but we have a mission. All people of goodwill must unite.” He speaks of sleepless nights, punctuated by air raid sirens and the constant threat of bombardment.
Maria Kunovska, an accountant with the charity, reflects on the profound cost of freedom. Standing beside their “clinic on wheels,” she explains that Ukrainians are fighting on multiple fronts – on the battlefield and in their communities, offering whatever help they can. “People used to say we were given our freedom without any struggle,” she says, “but now we are paying a high price. This is why this work becomes more valuable for every Ukrainian.”
Kunovska’s words resonate with a newfound understanding of what freedom truly means – it’s not just a concept, but a hard-won right, defended with courage and sacrifice. As political debates rage on and peace plans are proposed, the reality on the ground in Ukraine remains a desperate struggle for survival, fueled by an unwavering determination to protect their homeland.
