Deploy | Support | Deliver

info@actionsbeyondwords.org

 

Blog

A social media–style graphic shows three men in black shirts smiling on the deck of a ferry with the white cliffs of Dover in the background. Overlaid text reads “Convoy Two.” In the upper corner, a fire engine image is placed with the Instagram handle “@actionsbeyondwords” above the photo and the caption “Heading to Ukraine - Convoy 2 of 2025.” The bottom corner has the Actions Beyond Words logo.

Convoy Two of 2025: Shoulder to Shoulder with Ukraine

by
ABW Special Volunteers, Fire Support, Social / Mental Health Support, Ukraine
September 6, 2025

Setting Off Once More

Defying sleep, dodging Russian bombardment, and relying on the extraordinary goodwill of firefighters—past and present—Actions Beyond Words has completed its second convoy of fire trucks to Ukraine this year.

That brings our 2025 total to four fire appliances delivered, all privately fundraised, thanks to the generosity of supporters around the world.

Neil Day and Ryan Harmer, two former firefighters in uniform wearing red 'safety' glasses, sitting inside a fire engine, smiling at the camera. Destination Ukraine
Neil and Ryan are looking for trouble inside their fire truck, Ready for anything.
Two men standing in front of three red fire engines with “Fire and Rescue” markings and banners supporting aid for Ukraine. Those men are the West Brothers, who provided the livery free of charge for this venture,
Fire engines lined up with the West Brothers team after the decals were installed,
Two fire engines parked at a modern fuel station, one firefighter standing nearby, preparing for travel.
Fire Trucks refuelling on their journey to deliver support equipment.

From Strangers to a Team

It’s hard to believe this group only came together in January. In just months, they’ve become a slick, well-oiled team—focused on the right priorities, for the right reasons, and always working towards the best possible outcomes.

The small, discreet and interchangeable team packs a punch that hits hard.

Our first fire truck convoy earlier this year took months to plan, you can these blogs, here, here, here and even here – it was lot!. This time? A different beast, on a time scale that not only defied belief, but also shocked us that we achieved it!

As ever, it began with a bold idea, extraordinary people, and a lot of driving.

  • Two fire trucks.
  • Two destinations.
  • One towards the relative safety of western Ukraine.
  • The other towards the frontline in the east—definitely less than safe

The Road to Poland

The journey began in Norwich with a gruelling 42-hour haul through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany before reaching our base in Medyka, Poland.

Leading the drive was ABW volunteer Chris Standley, joined by his brother Mark, colleagues Neil and Ryan, and Robin Yessen, formerly of Paracrew, who flew in from Oslo to help with navigation, morale, and the critical job of keeping drivers awake.

At 84, our Polish HQ, the team was welcomed by Paracrew leaders Linda and Berit. Their arrival—with sirens blazing and lights flashing—was a moment of pure joy.

After days on the road, nothing beat cold beers and home-cooked Norwegian food, followed by a much-needed day of rest and planning.

But questions loomed. Russian bombardments had escalated dramatically in recent days. Should the mission pause?

The decision was unanimous, in the words of WDRAC: KEEP GOING.

Reinforcements arrived in the form of long-term volunteer Sofia Flanagan (part of ABW since 2022) and Kerry McLaughlin, long-time friend and colleague of 20 years with a huge personal portfolio of work in the non-profit sector, from Detroit, on her first trip to Ukraine, but definitely not her last.

Exhausted but united, the team pressed forward.

Destination – the Carpathians

The border crossing, though smoother than in April, still took four hours.

From there, the team wound their way into the Carpathian Mountains—a jewel of Ukraine, breathtaking in its beauty and sobering in its reminder of what was at stake.

A red fire engine is parked on the roadside with smoke rising from a grass fire. Actions Beyond Words volunteer firefighter in a red shirt and shorts runs a hose towards the smoke while another person assists near the vehicle, combating the blaze on a hot summer day.
ABW volunteer Firefighters quickly respond to a roadside blaze during their journey.
A yellow mug filled with coffee rests on a wooden railing, overlooking a sweeping valley of forested mountains under dramatic cloudy skies. Mist lingers among the trees in the distance, creating a serene and atmospheric scene.
A peaceful coffee break with a stunning Captathian mountain view.
Two men, Neil Day shirtless and Ryan Harmer, wearing shorts and gloves, work beside a red fire engine marked “Norfolk to Ukraine” with aid banners. They handle blue and red fuel containers near the vehicle, ensuring supplies are ready for the journey.
Refuelling efforts keep the Actions Beyond Words fire truck convoy on the road to Ukraine.

This mission wasn’t just about delivery. It was about accountability.

We revisited firefighters who had received engines from our first mission, checking on progress and confirming the deployment of the vehicles. We were delighted to find everything we expected of our friends—everything was exactly as it should be.

There is often speculation in the media about corruption, and rightly so; this should be scrutinised.

ABW takes pride in delivering aid directly to those who are trustworthy, accountable, and deeply committed. Our latest drops were no exceptions, and we’re looking forward to being back in Mizhhirya very soon. We hope to share time and stories, whilst meeting the teams operating these valuable assets, to hear first-hand how important they have become.

We’re always happy to take along any of you who want to join us to see the great work we’ve achieved.

Neil Day in a dark fire service uniform and glasses sits in the driver’s seat of a red fire engine, smiling through the open window. Ryan Harmer in a red shirt and sunglasses sits behind him, also smiling. The bright red vehicle with reflective stripes frames the scene.
Smiles all around as the fire truck with Neil Day and Ryan Harmer.
Kerry McLaughlin, Actions Beyond Words Volunteer with dark hair sits inside a fire engine, smiling while holding a yellow high-visibility vest and a bottle of water. She has a black backpack with her, and a fire service uniform shirt with badge hangs on the seat beside her. Light filters in through the side window of the red vehicle.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s KERRY
Chris Standley, Actions Beyond Words Volunteer, and active Firefighter, in a red t-shirt with tattoos on his arm sits in the driver’s seat of a fire engine, smiling at the camera. Robin Yssen from Norway wearing a cap and glasses sits beside him at the controls, focused on the dashboard. The interior of the red fire engine is visible, with sunlight streaming in through the window.
Chris is in high spirits as the convoy prepares for the road ahead.

Building Local Partnerships

We were formally welcomed by the mayors of Mizhhirya and Pilipets, both now vital humanitarian hubs.

Despite their relative safety, these leaders regularly travel to the front lines to escort convoys and maintain accountability across the aid pipeline.

The hospitality was overwhelming, matched only by the overwhelming inclement weather. Fallen trees, torrential rain, and high winds slowed progress more than Russian strikes this time – and in JULY!.

At one point, the team sheltered in a powerless supermarket, swapping stories while waiting out the storm. It’s sometimes these most unexpected moments that burn into memories.

At the Town Hall, fire truck keys were handed over, flags of the UK, Ukraine, and Norfolk held high together, and then came the most important stage: training.

Neil Day, on his second convoy, alongside Ryan Harmer and Chris Stanley, trained local firefighters on the newly delivered trucks.

Within days, those appliances were out on the road, saving lives.

Firefighters teaching firefighters—speaking a universal language of trust, skill, and commitment.

Actions Beyond Words volunteers, Kerry, Sophia and Robin stand together in front of a town hall in Mizhhirya and trees on a sunny day. A woman with tattoos on her arms points while wearing a grey t-shirt, shorts, and trainers. A man in a cap and sunglasses holds a small camera, and a woman with dark hair smiles with her hand on her hip, wearing a grey “Actions Beyond Words” t-shirt.
Sophia, Kerry and Robin outside the town Hall in Mizhhirya
Actions Beyond Words volunteer Chris Stadnley in sunglasses and a black "ABW Norfolk Fire Convoy” t-shirt warmly shakes hands with a the recipients of the fire truck in a black dress shirt outdoors. Neil Day and Ryan Harmer of ABW stand in the background, both wearing dark shirts with mission logos. The handshake takes place on a grassy area next to the Town Hall with trees behind.
Warm greetings exchanged UK – Ukraine
Actions Beyond Words Volunteer, Chris Standley, in a black mission t-shirt demonstrates a large fire hose nozzle beside a red fire engine labeled “FIRE AND RESCUE.” The truck compartments are open, revealing supplies, hoses, and equipment. A church tower and buildings are visible in the background under a sunny sky.
Chris is demonstrating equipment to the local community.

The Last Night Before Kyiv

Our final night in Mizhhirya was filled with food, laughter, and reflection.

Ukrainians spoke of the global generosity that continues to astonish them. Their gratitude is real, no matter what sceptics say.

If you’ve not been to Ukraine, if you’ve not helped the progress or met the people, we encourage to support, and visit at your earliest opportunity!

To laugh, to share, to celebrate life in the shadow of war—that resilience is Ukraine’s greatest strength.

Being welcomed into that, sharing in their local pride, is a privilege we will never take lightly.

Set the SAT-NAV – Destination – EAST

Morning brought goodbyes and the inevitable road east: an 18-hour drive towards Kyiv.

The date—9 July—is etched into our minds. That night, Kyiv suffered the heaviest bombardment it had ever seen. That was where we were heading!

What happened next, as we delivered our second fire truck into Kharkiv Oblast to the town of Zmiiv, will be shared in our next blog.

👉 Click through to see the end of the story.

Enjoy the video our friends put together for us, highlighting the importance of the shared partnership

, , , , , , , ,

No Comments

Post a Comment