24 April 2026 – Sad news from Kherson. An armoured evacuation van used to rescue vulnerable people from villages around Kherson has been destroyed by a Russian FPV drone.
In October, Sunflower Scotland personally delivered this Mercedes Sprinter to Kherson and donated it to Strong Because Free, a local volunteer charity. Their team — Ihor, Dima and their colleagues — carry out extremely dangerous evacuation work, helping elderly people, disabled people and families leave villages under constant threat from Russian drones and shelling.
This van helped many people. It was used to evacuate residents whose homes had been destroyed, bring wounded civilians to hospital, and transport vulnerable people to a refuge hub in Kherson.
Unfortunately, during another evacuation run, the van was targeted by a Russian drone.
The attack happened just as the driver was getting out to help a woman leave her house. As he stepped out, he saw the incoming drone and jumped aside. That split-second reaction saved his life. The woman was still inside the house, protected by the walls, and was not injured.
Drone attack
The drone hit the rear of the van. The explosion blasted through the vehicle. The explosion was so strong that the armoured walls cracked open. Everything inside was pierced by pieces of shrapnel.
The driver, was injured, but thankfully survived. When the rest of the team heard what had happened, they immediately rushed to the scene and took him to hospital.
Meeting in Kherson
Sunflower Scotland travelled to Kherson in early May to see the damage first-hand and to discuss what should happen next. Looking at the destroyed van, it is honestly incredible that nobody was killed. If the drone had struck just a minute later, the result could have been very different.
Seeing this kind of destruction with your own eyes brings home the reality of humanitarian work in places like Kherson. Everyone working there is walking on thin ice.
We spent two days with the local team. We drank a lot of coffee, talked through the risks, and discussed the best way forward. One thing was clear: an armoured evacuation van is absolutely essential.
Without armour, both the volunteers and the people they rescue face even greater danger. Some residents may even refuse to evacuate if they believe they are safer inside their homes than in an unprotected van.
New challenge
So we have decided to source another armoured van for Kherson.
This will not be easy. Having spoken with several specialist companies in the UK, they all said that no second-hand armoured vehicles were available. We are now considering different options, including sourcing a vehicle in Europe or buying a standard van and fitting protective armour.
We will keep you updated on our progress.
The main thing is this: we are determined to continue helping people in Kherson.
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