25 March 2025 – Sunflower Scotland and Spiders for Ukraine are proud to support the anti-drone team of the 43rd brigade. They are protecting Kharkiv from kamikaze drones which Russia sends to kill innocent people in the city. We delivered a 4×4 SUV Nissan X-Trail, which was purchased thanks to the sale of Ukrainian icons. The 4×4 car will evacuate the wounded to safety and save lives.
Back in the UK, we purchased a 2011 diesel Nissan X Trail. We serviced it and put new off-road tyres.
Humanitarian delivery to villages
The first use of this 4×4 Nissan car was to deliver humanitarian aid. We loaded two 4×4 cars with warm boots and drove to Pidvysoke, where we donated them to the local residents: very poor older people (mostly women). Please read our report about this delivery: Warm boots to support 352 poor people in Borova district.
This shows why we bring our own 4×4 cars from Scotland. Because we need them to deliver humanitarian aid to frontline villages: bad roads. After we are finished delivering aid, we donate the 4×4 cars to Ukrainian defenders.
Protecting Kharkiv from deadly drones
Oleh, from the 43rd brigade, works every day near the Eastern front-line of the Kharkiv region. Here, his team drives a truck with a big machine-gun, and shoots down Iranian-designed Shahed drones (HESA Shahed 136).
These are kamikaze drones, which fly like a small airplane over hundreds of miles, and deliver a deadly payload of 50 kg of explosive. Russia produced these Shaheed drones under the name “Heran-2” (geranium), and sends them to Kharkiv (and other cities in Ukraine) to kill innocent people.
Oleh and his team are one of many patrols. They are doing whatever they can to protect the innocent women, children, the elderly and everyone else in Kharkiv from the deadly drones which rain death from the sky.
It’s hard, sometimes Russia is sending over 300 drones overnight.
On the ground, the Russian forces attack Oleh’s battalion, trying to wipe them out and crush their defences. If they disappear, Russian drones will fly freely and kill more people in Kharkiv and other cities, and destroy many more lives.
We know we need to help these brave men.
Sunflower gives them cars absolutely for free. We absorb all costs. Often Ukrainian soldiers offer us money and ask us to bring them vehicles. We refuse because we are a charity, not a shop. Apparently there are many fake charities now who sell cars: there are many UK cars for sale in West Ukraine. It’s wrong.
The saints are helping and saving lives
Two Edinburgh’s charitable organisations, Sunflower Scotland and Spiders for Ukraine, together contributed money to buy the 4×4 vehicle, and get it delivered to the front line. Only by working together we can help those who are struggling. The money was raised thanks to the sale of Ukrainian icons: Buy an icon on ammunition box and donate to Ukraine.
Meeting east of Kharkiv
Sunflower’s team – Oleg Dmitriev and Stevie Blythe – arrived to a Kutuzivka – a village a few miles east of Kharkiv. This place is a reminder of the time when it was occupied by Russia. Most houses are destroyed by shelling, there are land mines everywhere.
Watch where you step. Don’t step too far from the road. The “leaf” mine will blow your foot off. The anti-tank mine will kill you on the spot. Our team is working there because someone has to.
The Ukrainian army is de-mining with robots. But it’s a slow process, and it will take years. In the meantime, many farmers and children will be hurt and die. Sad.
Here, we met with Oleh and gave him the Nissan 4×4 SUV.
We always give cars absolutely for free. Often soldiers offer us money to get more vehicles. We refuse because we are a charity, not a shop. Apparently there are many fake volunteers now who sell cars. It’s wrong.
Ukraine needs help now more than ever. We are on the ground, helping everybody: poor people in villages, and soldiers defending them. Support us if you can. Thank you.
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