MP MATT Western has thanked the local community for its support for Ukraine over the past two years.
As the two-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is marked, the MP for Warwick and Leamington has thanked residents across Warwick district for all they have done to support the people of the war torn country.
The local community came together back in February 2022 to help coordinate support for Ukrainian families coming to the UK, to organise aid to be sent to Ukraine and to fundraise for ambulances to be delivered to the frontline.
A number of initiatives continue locally almost two years on from the invasion, including a Ukrainian cafe in All Saints Church in Leamington, run by young people from Ukraine, and continued fundraising by the Polish Centre and LKQ Euro Car Parts, who delivered over 1,000 presents to children in Ukraine last year.
Alongside the Christmas appeal coordinated by the Polish Centre and LKQ Euro Car Parts, they have now sent 20 ambulances to the frontline of Ukraine and are currently preparing ambulances number 21, 22 and 23 for the journey.
Mr Western drove one of the ambulances to the Polish-Ukrainian border in September last year, undertaking the journey with eight others over three days to deliver two ambulances, two Land Rovers and medical aid.
Members of the group handed over the vehicles at the border to deputy commander of the 45th Airborne Assault Brigade, Konstantin Oleinyk, and two other officers, who had travelled from the Donbas area to express their gratitude for the support received.
And this time last year, Mr Western recognised a number of people and organisations that had contributed to the local support for Ukraine in his MP Awards.
Helen Aris, a local resident, who supported Ukrainians in finding refuge in Warwick and Leamington received an individual award alongside Dawid Kozlowski, from the Polish Centre, who has been integral in organising the aid being sent from Warwick district to Ukraine.
