11 February 2026 – Sunflower Scotland donated a Transit van converted into field ambulance to combat medics of the 43rd Mechanised Brigade. The Transit van has a high road clearance, and with all-terrain tyres it can go through the fields and bad roads, where a regular road ambulance wouldn’t go. The van will help the medics to evacuate the wounded soldiers from the Kupyansk front, and save lives. This project was realised thanks to a very generous donor from Cambridge, who kindly provided full funding.
In January, Sunflower purchased a Ford Transit van, which was previously used by Scottish Water. To prepare the van for its new job as field ambulance, we purchased a used ambulance FERNO stretcher bed and fitted it inside. We purchased a portable FERNO scoop stretcher, which you can use to lift a wounded or injured person from the ground.
We fitted all-terrain tyres, so that it would feel at home on dirt roads of the Kharkiv region.
Originally, the Ford van had a lively light-blue colour. We thought it would attract too much attention at the front line.
We bought 28 cans of Jenolite paint and spray-painted the van grey, making it more discreet.
Before going to Ukraine, we loaded the van with hundreds of kilograms of medical supplies, and warm jackets kindly donated by The Hoggs of Fife. It was a very cold winter, and warm clothes would be a great help to so many people in Ukraine.
Edinburgh – Kharkiv
We set off from Edinburgh on the 4th February, and arrived in Kharkiv on the 7th, as a part of Sunflower’s convoy. It was a bitter winter, with night temperatures dropping to -26C when we were there. After the long journey, Oleg and Vitalyi spent hours scrubbing off a layer of ice, dirt and dirty icicles.
Medical supplies for the hospital
We donated all medical supplies and medical uniforms for the nurses to the 13th hospital in Kharkiv. After that, we were ready to donate the van to the combat medics.
Meeting with the medics
On 11th February Oleg took the van to Shevchenkove, 18 miles behind the front line. There, he met with Svitlana and her team. Thy just finished evacuating a number of victims of a morning missile attack.
Svitlana was really happy. She said their last remaining vehicle was blown up and they had to borrow cars from other people. This Transit van would be 100% theirs, dedicated vehicle which will help with evacuations. This would make such a difference. We knew that this van would be saving lives every day.
After a short chat, Svitlana suggested that we all should go to a nearby village with a beautiful church, and take a photo there to remember this moment.
Returning to Kharkiv
After meeting Svitlana and her team, Oleh (43 brigade) dropped off Oleg (Sunflower) at the Kulinichi coffee shop in Chuhuiv, near the bus station. We had coffees and cinnamon buns, before saying goodbye and returning to our work. The Sunflower team carried on to Kharkiv, to make our next donation for the intelligence team.
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