Chester man in Ukraine as part of mission to help feed soldiers on front line

An Upton man has travelled to Ukraine on a mission to help get fresh food to soldiers fighting on the front line.

Ben Crossley founded the Vehicles 4 Victory organisation to deliver essential utility vehicles to the war torn country. The vehicles are used to take fresh food packages prepared daily by the Lviv Volunteer Kitchen to soldiers on the front line in the east of Ukraine.

Ben has told of the devastating impact of the war that he has witnessed during his visits to the country, saying that on his first visit in July he counted 448 graves of servicemen in Lviv over the past 18 months alone. Ben's friend and travel partner donated a four-wheel drive vehicle, drone batteries, food and other supplies taken to support frontline units in July.

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On their first night in Lviv, there was an air raid and an explosion at an apartment block in the city which killed six people. Ben said the blast could be heard and felt from their bomb shelter 4km away. Ben is now back in Ukraine doing more voluntary work to support soldiers.

Ben and his friend also spent time at the Lviv Volunteer Kitchen, as well as spending a further 10 days in Kyiv meeting staff involved with the IT systems for the artillery brigades, and with the founder of Lifeline Ukraine, the national suicide prevention hotline.

Reflecting on their first visit to Ukraine, Ben said “The first day in Lviv was one of the most formative days of my life. We had an air raid the first night, the first raid on Lviv for three weeks. From the bomb shelter we all heard and felt the blast 4km away.

"In the morning we visited the impact site where the top floor of an apartment building had been demolished and 10 residents had been killed. Later that same morning we attended a military parade and cathedral service for two soldiers killed on the front line, followed by their burials at the cemetery."

He added: "We counted the graves of 448 servicemen from Lviv killed in the last eighteen months. This brought home the devastating impact this war is having on everyone's lives."

Vehicles 4 Victory is described on its website as a humanitarian organisation, with their objective being peace and an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

Since the first trip to Ukraine, Ben said that a growing number of people in Chester were lending their support to V4V, including making donations via Ben's GoFundMe page and donating more vehicles, which set off from Chester on their journey to Lviv on September 1.

Ben said two University of Chester students from Ukraine, Alex and Illia - who were brought to the UK under the Humanitarian Protection Scheme - were also helping the charity, developing its website to help raise awareness and get support for its work.

Alex, 19, said: “I come from Odessa, and have been studying at Chester University since May 2022. My two younger brothers and parents remain in Ukraine. Although I am currently safe, it is a constant worry for me and I am pleased to have the opportunity to support my family and people back home.

"The Vehicles 4 Victory website will send specific items directly to where they are needed and will have an impact.”

Vehicles 4 Victory set off on their second trip to Ukraine from outside Storyhouse in Chester, with a parcel drop off and supporters from Chester and Ukraine giving them a send off. There are two vehicles and drivers heading for Ukraine on this trip, with volunteer Ed Adams from Staffordshire joining the expedition.

Calling for more volunteers for the charity, Ed said: "As the project continues, we will definitely need more people up for an adventure, drivers for sure.

"We will continue doing this until the end of the war, and anyone, anywhere can get involved in the support community."

For more information on the work of Vehicles 4 Victory visit their website here.

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