An armored evacuation vehicle and an emergency rescue van have been handed over to rescuers by the Ukrainian FireFighters Foundation.

An armored evacuation vehicle and an emergency rescue van have been handed over to rescuers by the Ukrainian FireFighters Foundation.

An armored Toyota Land Cruiser 105 has been assigned to a border rescue unit in the Sumy region. It will be used for evacuation and rescue missions right on the frontline border. Unfortunately, this area suffers from systematic and brutal attacks by the aggressor. Civilian and infrastructure facilities are among the enemy’s top targets, and rescue units, their equipment, and facilities are deliberately attacked as well.

Evacuating civilians, delivering medicine, food, and water, or providing urgent assistance are extremely complex operations that carry a high risk for both civilians and the emergency rescue teams of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU). An armored all-wheel-drive vehicle greatly increases the chances of rescuers safely reaching those in need and returning back.

This is the sixth armored vehicle handed over by the Ukrainian FireFighters Foundation. All of them are currently carrying out evacuation and rescue missions in frontline areas of Ukraine.

The fundraising campaign for the Sumy armored vehicle was supported by our partners Mazda Ukraine and TotalEnergies. The amount raised was doubled by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) within the EBRD Community Initiative program. The vehicle was purchased and additionally equipped thanks to the support of our friend Rene Paul and Special Truck Parts BV. Oliver North purchased and donated two sets of hydraulic rescue tools, which will significantly expand the capabilities of Sumy rescuers.

Thanks to the support of our partners and our determination, within the same fundraising campaign and budget, we were also able to purchase a van for the Kyiv rapid psychological assistance unit. These specialists work at the sites of missile strikes, finding the words to help preserve the mental health of civilians and rescuers. Sadly, missile, bomb, and drone attacks on Kyiv take the lives of peaceful Ukrainians, sparing neither children, nor women, nor anyone.

Now, SESU psychologists have their own service vehicle that can quickly and safely bring them to those who need help. The Kyiv psychological assistance unit even has a therapy dog named Banana — and the new van has already received this respected team member’s “seal of approval.”

Unity and cooperation allow us to do more!
We sincerely thank our partners for their trust and tireless support, and the rescuers for their heroic work.
We invite you to join the initiatives of the Ukrainian FireFighters Foundation.