By James Hewitt

I understand more clearly now the phenomenon for great writers and artists to find inspiration for their work in various parts of the world, such as Ernest Hemingway. 

Taras Shevchenko wouldn’t have had to travel far for his inspired great work. Of course, I’m not suggesting that I am anywhere close to such exalted figures.

But, I am truly inspired to record our on-going and important aid work at Op SafeDrop, in this beautiful country; inspired by the people. And inspired by the places.

Chief took delivery of a donated VW Crafter (generously given by Andrew Trotter). He drove this from Newcastle to meet me in Kidderminster, Worcester Hospital. My great friend, Brigadier Tom Ogilvie Graham had arranged for us to collect two Stellaris specialist eye surgery machines (add value), kindly given by the hospital. These were to be delivered to Lviv and Kyiv.

We reached the border between Poland and Ukraine, around 70 hours after leaving Kidderminster in Worcestershire. The route – Kidderminster, Dunkirk, Leipzig, Rzeszow, Lviv. Conditions – rain in Dunkirk but clear and sunny for the most part. Steady 80 mph.

Communication between all those involved, en-route was helpful. We were able to print and stamp a useful email from Kyiv in the hotel in Rzeszow, which duly ensured smooth passage with the Stellaris machines at the border.

One of the many terrible results of war on such a scale is the number of serious eye wounds that the hospitals here are having to deal with. This valuable equipment will enable them to perform the surgeries far more efficiently with much better outcomes. The delight we both felt at having delivered the Stellaris to the Eye Clinic in Lviv, who are having to perform so many of these operations was immense. Job satisfaction at its best.

On the Wednesday (17th), well rested and with renewed vigour, we got back on the road, destination Kyiv. By 15.00 hrs we arrived at our RV with Dr Hasan and Prof Andrii, together they run the Eye Clinic near the centre of the city.

After a very warm welcome we were given a tour and learned more about their excellent work and the importance of the Stellaris machines in the procedure for retinal and trauma eye damage.

Many soldiers will have their vision saved because of these machines now in the hands of brilliant men and women like Hasan and Andrii. Delivery of these two machines is all the reward needed!

The beautiful city of Chernihiv is about 2 hours drive NE of the capital, towards the border with Belarus. It is one of four places which received “Hero City” of Ukraine; an honorary title awarded for outstanding heroism during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, but the city and region suffered terribly during the comparatively short occupation. The outskirts and surrounding villages were flattened and littered with the scars of the horrific war crimes committed here.

We drove past the remains of schools, hospitals and houses to meet with Olga in the city centre, where people dressed in traditional clothes enjoyed the public holiday in warm sunshine and relaxed atmosphere. Olga runs SafeDrop’s partner foundation in Chernihiv called the Ramena Foundation and was herself named ‘2022 Person of the Year’ in Chernihiv for her incredible work during and after occupation. Not far from the centre we arrived at the storage compound, where Olga helped us off-load the aid. It was then that I heard about Op SafeDrop’s rebuild program that we are piloting in Chernihiv. One of the hospitals we drove passed and two schools will be rebuilt by our team. Much of the rebuild investment so far has centred around the capital, leaving Chernihiv, Sumy and other regions left behind. I am so proud that SafeDrop is stepping up to correct this by assisting the communities that risk being left behind.

Our final drop was to a family in Chernihiv who had lost their home and all their possessions due to the war. Their one request, some bicycles for the children. It was so humbling to be able to make such a huge difference to these children’s lives by allowing them to gain some enjoyment once again from riding around their neighbourhood like they did before this terrible invasion.

The same afternoon back in Kyiv near the eye clinic, in Pushkin Park (likely to be renamed), Dr Hasan and Prof Andrii, Chief and I enjoyed a late lunch.

Although the citizens of Kyiv are subjected every night to the terror attacks of Putin’s, Iranian supplied drones and missiles; they are determined to continue with life in as normal a way as possible. And despite the blasts overhead during the night, there is a semblance of normality until the midnight curfew.

Meanwhile, further south in Kherson, Toby, Karl, Maks and Roman were busy delivering generators, medicine, beds, food and hygiene products to our local partners in the city and in Velyka Oleksandrivka, Northern Kherson region which are no less traumatised by Putin’s terrorism.

As I write, this heroic team is again doing marvelous things in the south delivering £300,000 worth of medicine and medical supplies to our Kherson Partner and the Kherson Central Hospital. The team were also working with the hospital to overcome obstacles preventing the evacuation of around 30 critical stroke patients, to Germany, through our specialist medical evacuation program.

I must resist the temptation to write from my “armchair”(although, I’m sure Pushkin would approve). However, I can draw your attention to a very good article in The Daily Telegraph -23 May- written by Lt Gen Ben Hodges, (far more qualified than I).

Ukraine can/will win this outrageous war. This land grab.

We must be resolved to continue our support to the end. We MUST stand by our friends in Ukraine. They are fighting for us. They continue to die for us. Give them the tools and they will prevail.

We at Op SafeDrop will stay.

We will continue to stand by our friends.

Thank you all for your continued support.

The people of Ukraine are incredibly grateful for your kind help.

They will win.

Slava Ukraini