From Errol to Ukraine: Charity celebrates 100 lorries of aid to conflict zone

A charity in Perthshire is celebrating sending its 100th lorry of humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Tayside and Strathearn Help for Ukraine was set up weeks after Russia invaded in February 2022.

Since then, they have sent 26 pallets of food, clothing, and medical supplies on each lorry to the Ukrainian front.

The 100th lorry set off on its 1,700-mile journey to Ukraine last week and is set to arrive on Tuesday.

Andri Kharlanova runs a charity that receives boxes of food, clothing, and medical supplies from the charity.

He told STV News: “There are people arriving in my city with nothing. Nothing. No clothes, nothing for children, nothing to eat, no house.

“Everything needed because now it is a very bad situation, without electricity, without eating. Children without clothes without sanitary. It’s a very bad situation.”

Tayside and Strathearn Help for Ukraine is now the main hub for donations going from Scotland to Ukraine, with people bringing items from across the country to the warehouse in Errol.

All the work is carried out by volunteers, including school children and people who have been forced to leave their homes in Ukraine because of the conflict.

Ken Simpson from Tayside and Strathearn Support for Ukraine says they will continue to support the country even after the war ends.

“I would really love to see the war ended. Even if it ended tomorrow, we’re still going to be busy for a number of months,” he added.

“There are going to be so many displaced people and refugees that they’ll still needing help and assistance for a long time.”