UK Firefighters in 2,000+ Mile Humanitarian Convoy to Ukraine

niceuser — Tue, 20 May 2025 10:03:01 +0000

Odesa, Ukraine — Left Norwich 19 April 2025: After months of tireless fundraising in the UK, Japan, the USA, and coordinated international support from Norway, a team of serving and retired firefighters from Norfolk have successfully delivered two decommissioned fire engines to Ukraine. The mission culminated with a powerful water cannon salute upon their arrival in Odesa.

The humanitarian convoy, organised by the non-profit Actions Beyond Words (ABW), travelled over 2,000 miles through 7 countries— including France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland—before crossing into Ukraine at the Medyka border and heading to their first key destination: Uzhhorod.

The team – firefighters Chris Standley (Serving Watch Commander), Neil Day, Jamie Hodkinson, Stephen Bond, along with Brian Earley from the Diss & District Rotary Club -met up with Project Leader Simon Massey, founder of the non-profit Actions Beyond Words, at the ABW HQ in Medyka, Poland, along with Robin Yssen, a longstanding volunteer with ABW from Norway. Private donor and humanitarian volunteer, Jonathan Lubecky and also joined us overnight to meet up with the team.

Together, this team would hand over two fully equipped fire appliances, privately funded through donations & sourced from UK firm Angloco, with vital support from Operation Florian.

The first engine was delivered to Uzhhorod, but headed to the emergency services in Pylypets’, a remote Carpathian Mountain region comprising of nine villages. Under martial law, the main regional fire appliances had been repurposed, leaving the community with little more than Soviet-era or handheld equipment. The donation of these “pumps” [Fire Engines with water onboard and a pump system in the back that use hydrants or local free water sources]—along with vital training provided by the UK firefighters on the new equipment, ensuring they can deploy ASAP—restores a critical emergency service to thousands.

Following the first handover, the convoy travelled east to Podilsk, where the team reconnected with a school previously supported by Actions Beyond Words. There, they brought joy to hundreds of children—many of whom have only known life during wartime. The children explored the fire engines, tried on gear, and spent time with the British team in a rare moment of celebration and connection – even the teachers joined in! The team also toured the school shelters, used daily by nearly 1,500 students, offering a sobering insight into life under constant threat. Teachers Natalka Zaveruya and Inna Yefymova planned out the entire experience and we couldn’t be more proud. Firefighter Neil Day (retired) said, “I’ve done hundreds of school visits across my career but nothing compared to today.”

The final destination was Odesa, where the second fire appliance was delivered to the city’s fire and emergency services. Its arrival was marked with a stirring water cannon salute and heartfelt appreciation from local crews and officials.

The team also visited the skeletal remains of the Odesa Emergency Service Response Command and Control Centre, destroyed in a missile strike that obliterated 16 emergency service vehicles and over 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid. What remains is a rusted monument, almost a sculpture of horror: an ever-present reminder of the evil destruction and the immense ongoing need.

Simon Massey, founder of Actions Beyond Words, said:

“This was not just a delivery – it was a mission of solidarity. Firefighters in Ukraine are battling impossible odds, often with outdated or damaged equipment as a result of deliberate acts of aggression. These trucks are more than vehicles; they are lifelines. The journey of this convoy reflects the very best of international cooperation.”

This project was made possible thanks to the generous support of The Pomerleau Family Foundation – Burlington, WDRAC – Tokyo, Jonathan Lubecky – Private donor Washington DC, the Diss & District Rotary Club – UK, Operation Florian – UK, J W Vass Ltd – UK , SignForce – Norwich, West Brothers – Thetford, and Actions Beyond Words’ individual donors worldwide.

With Trucks 1 and 2 now in active service, Actions Beyond Words is urgently fundraising for Trucks 3 and 4, due for delivery in the next 6 weeks, heading into Kharkiv and beyond.

ENDS

The post UK Firefighters in 2,000+ Mile Humanitarian Convoy to Ukraine appeared first on PR FIRE US.

TGM Research Releases Largest Survey Report Revealing the World’s Reaction to Russia-Ukraine Conflict

niceuser — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 15:08:44 +0000

TGM Research Releases Largest Survey Report Revealing the World’s Reaction to Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Noted data and insights company TGM Research has just revealed the findings of its interactive survey on people’s perception of the current situation in Ukraine. As part of this survey, 10,204 respondents from France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, United Kingdom and the United States were interviewed online.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, killing dozens and forcing hundreds to flee for their lives. Russian air strikes hit military facilities across the country and ground forces moved in from the north, south and east, triggering condemnation from political leaders as well common people around the world.

Immediately after the start of the conflict, Warsaw-based data and insights company TGM Research started a comprehensive multi-country survey involving 10,204 participants from France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, United Kingdom and the United States. The objective of this survey was to find out what the world feels about this unprecedented act of terror.

The survey by TGM Research is the largest survey conducted since the breakout of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This survey was carried out between the 25th and the 26th of February, 2022 using internet-based polling on a representative sample of 18+. In this terrifying situation of social anxiety, the findings of this online market research provides a clear indication of the common people’s stand about the current situation in Ukraine.

Mentioned below are some of the most important findings of the survey at a glance:

In most of the countries, a high percentage of people are familiar with the current situation in Ukraine
Nearly 80% of respondents mentioned that the conflict is a matter of threat for the European as well as their country’s security.
2 out of 3 Europeans are willing to help Ukrainian refugees by conducting fundraisers, preparing apartments, and collecting food and clothes for them.
In the present scenario, around 17% respondents don’t feel safe in their respective countries, about 35% feel this situation could lead to World War III, and 65% consider ongoing refugee problem to be the greatest concern resulting from this situation.
Approximately 40% people feel their country is making right decisions in supporting Ukraine and more than 70% are in favor of their countries accepting Ukrainian refugees.
37% of people believe that NATO should send military support for Ukraine.
Approximately 25% people feel that EU has reacted sufficiently in this situation.
More than 50% are in favor of a trade sanction for Russia and boycott of Russian goods.
51% of participants want EU to completely block trade exchange with Russia.
45% are in favor of facilitating the refugee process for Ukrainian citizens.

Being close to each other for centuries with common history and geography, individuals from European nations are showing extraordinary solidarity towards Ukraine in these tough times. TGM Research has done well to capture the emotions of the common people from 7 European countries and the US about the ongoing crisis. Most importantly, the survey clarifies the fact that there is no social consent whatsoever for Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

“The Conflict between Russia and Ukraine is threatening world security and causing an ongoing refugee problem. However, our Europeans are strongly supporting Ukraine and the majority is willing to help as our survey shows. Many of them have friends or loved ones and feel connected to Ukraine,” said Greg Laski, the CEO of TGM Research.

The entire survey report released by TGM Research is now available at https://tgmresearch.com/war-in-ukraine-2022-global-survey-results.html

More info about other global survey projects at tgmresearch.com

About TGM Research:
Founded in 2017, TGM Research is a data and insights company specializing in online market research. With access to over 4 billion consumers worldwide and our proprietary online market survey panels, TGM helps businesses, academic and education research to identify, connect and engage with the people who matter. We do this by capturing declared first-party data. We help to understand, segment, target and engage with your target audiences globally through research that moves at the speed of culture.

The post TGM Research Releases Largest Survey Report Revealing the World’s Reaction to Russia-Ukraine Conflict appeared first on PR FIRE US.

ukraine – PR FIRE US

UK Firefighters in 2,000+ Mile Humanitarian Convoy to Ukraine

TGM Research Releases Largest Survey Report Revealing the World’s Reaction to Russia-Ukraine Conflict