All vehicles used for Help4Ukraine delivered and supported missions have been legally purchased and are available for export to Ukraine. The ownership of the vehicle passes directly to the end recipient as will be evidenced on the V5C. The end recipient will be a senior ranking officer in a military organisation with a medical need and a medical team, or a senior manager at an emergency or regional hospital. All recipients are fully vetted before a vehicle is allocated and duly authorised requests only are accepted.

All vehicles we purchase have been fully maintained and serviced. We then send them to a servicing centre for a full inspection and any repairs needed, e.g. Oil change, new tyres etc. If an MOT is required, we will arrange that also.

All vehicles will be fully insured to drive by the nominated drivers for the duration of the mission. For this we will require you to complete a driver information form and a copy of your driving licence (both sides). Upon completion of the mission your driving licence copy will be deleted securely.

All vehicles will be provided with full breakdown cover for the duration of the mission.

Under Section 19 of the Road Safety Act 2006, and associated deregulation Acts, ambulances will have blue lights and sirens disabled. Usually this is by removal of a switch key and removal of auxiliary battery. This can be reactivated upon handover in Ukraine if needed. Occasionally light bars may be removed and cannot be replaced, or cables damaged and will require repair by the recipient in Ukraine.

All Service specific letter and branding must be removed before we take custodianship of the vehicle. The word “Ambulance” and any other associated lettering may remain. It is not a requirement to cover up the word “Ambulance” but you may wish to put a piece of electrical tape, or similar, corner to corner across this signage.

Displayed in the dashboard, visible from the outside, should be a clear sign saying the vehicle is “Out of Service”.

Drivers should have a category C1 licence or higher, for UK licence holders. Similar requirements apply for non-UK licence holders. You will be responsible for your own travel and personal insurance.

All drivers will have their accommodation paid for. Food and beverage, such as lunches and evening meals, will be for you to pay directly and will not be reimbursed. Fuel for the vehicle and any additional vehicle costs will be covered by Help4Uraine.

Each vehicle will have a full manifest of what is included, in the languages required. We will also provide all border crossing and other documentation as required, including vehicle specifics, load/weight details and duly authorised request as well as additional copies of documents that will be required, such as an additional copy of the V5C, for the border crossing.

The route used will depend on several factors and may include a ferry crossing or Eurotunnel. Details of this and any relating information will be shared in advance of the mission.

For driving in continental Europe we recommend you familiarise yourself with advice form these following website:

All vehicles will be suitably equipped with hi-viz vests, warning triangles, basic breakdown/repair kits, first aid kits and UK stickers. Vehicles will be numbered (attached front and rear) for ease of identification.

Each vehicle will be quipped with a radio for ease of communication, and we will have a dedicated chat group for the mission, set up in advance. Radios are to be used only by the co-driver when the vehicle is in motion.

It is optional whether to cross the border into Ukraine for all drivers. If you do not wish to cross the border, we will part at the final evening in Poland/Slovakia and rendezvous after handover back in the same city before returning to the UK. Ideally, we need to know in advance whether you wish to not cross the border.

The border crossing requires some patience. We advise you bring something to do or read. The crossing will be managed by the mission leader and our contacts at the border, and in Ukraine. Vehicle checks are standard, and you may be required to remove and open boxes, this is quite normal.

You may be asked to show the VIN plate of the ambulance. The locations of each are as follows:

After the border crossing there may be additional security checks.

We will rendezvous as pre-arranged with our partners in Ukraine. However, there is occasionally the need to change this last minute for security or other reasons.

At handover we ask that a full manifest check is completed and handover documents are signed and countersigned, one copy we keep the other with our partners.

After handover we will typically spend the night in Ukraine, before returning the next morning.

Extraction is pre-arranged and will return to the last EU overnight stop. From here we will return to the UK on pre-booked flights, unless you prefer to make your own return or stay longer.

For social media #H4U and #Help4Ukraine. We ask you do not broadcast while on mission. Our preferred method is you keep notes and images by day and then tell the story day by day as it unfolded. In effect a complete copy of what you want to say every day, but delayed by one week. Please also be mindful of people who do not wish to be named or do not wish to have their photos or details shared.