A charity run by former Tauranga mayor Tenby Powell has handed over another 16 decommissioned ambulances to Ukrainian armed forces as the war reaches nearly two-and-a-half years.

In a ceremony in Kyiv’s Sofia Square, Powell donated the vehicles, each equipped with oxygen equipment and basic medical aid tools, to Ukrainian medical units so they could transport and treat injured soldiers and civilians.

With seven donated last year, Powell told the Herald this means 23 ambulances have so far been handed over to the Ukrainian army.

“Ten more are expected to arrive soon – that means there will be 33 in total.”

Kiwi Kare chairman Tenby Powell and his wife Sharon Hunter have helped get decommissioned ambulances to Ukrainian armed forces. Photo supplied.

Powell, a former New Zealand Army colonel, and his wife, Sharon Hunter, organised logistics and helped drive the 16 ambulances to an Australian-based ship that would carry them the 20,000km to Europe.

A team of 20 drivers from New Zealand, Poland, France, Germany, the United States, Canada, Britain and Ukraine successfully drove the ambulances from where they landed in Germany to Kyiv, some 2000km away.

He said army officials were “absolutely thrilled” to receive the vehicles.

“They will be used to evacuate injured soldiers, but they will also be able to be used to carry out evacuations after curfew.

“The army is the only one allowed to operate after curfew. The paramedics who will operate these vehicles will save numerous lives.”

Yesterday Kiwi K.A.R.E handed over 16 ambulances to Ukrainian Medical Units in Kyiv. We are very grateful to the thousands of generous Kiwi’s who made this possible. Please click on this link to donate: https://t.co/w90VMkx4oX#KiwiKARE #StandWithUkraine
🇺🇦 🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/EfBdPYyGHp

— Tenby Powell (@tenbypowell) September 11, 2024

Powell said the ambulances were right-hand drive and, like much of continental Europe, Ukrainians drive on the right.

“But that won’t be an impediment.”

Serviceman Oleksandr Shpak told the Kyiv Post that while the ambulances were not all-wheel drive, they would use them between stabilisation points and hospitals.

“It’s important that everything here is in working order; we don’t need to make additional repairs to the vehicles or equipment,” he said.

“We can connect oxygen devices, masks, resuscitation equipment and wheelchairs are in good condition. There are even stretchers for the wounded.”

In August 2023, with support from Hato Hone St John, Kiwi Kare delivered seven decommissioned ambulances filled with medical supplies to the war-torn country along with logistics support vehicles, such as large vans, 4x4 cars, and a 13-tonne truck.

The organisation has also been using recycled electrical water boilers collected from across Ukraine to fabricate stoves and water heaters.

Powell said Ukrainians had described the project as “life-saving” and it was now being run year-round.

“To date, we have distributed over 2500 stoves to families in desperate need. Ukrainian fabricators strip and re-weld the recycled cylinders, and we distribute them to red zone areas where power and water infrastructure has been completely destroyed”.

Donations can be made on the Kiwi Kare Givealittle page or via its website.

- Bay of Plenty Times