News / Ukraine
Bristol fire engines arrive in Ukraine
Two Bristol fire engines have arrived in Odesa.
They were sent from Avon Fire and Rescue Service on Ukrainian independence day, August 24, along with personal protective equipment and water rescue tools to support firefighters in one of the most populous cities in Ukraine.
The engines and equipment were delivered by seven Avon Fire and Rescue Service firefighters and Paul Goggin, former Bristol lord mayor and Labour councillor for Hartcliffe and Withywood, with support from UK-based charity Fire Aid.
is needed now More than ever
Dozens of supporters waved them off, including Antonina Grebeniuk, founder of the Ukraine Aid and Welfare Charity.
At the time, she said: “It’s a great honour to be together with all of the firefighters, with Fire Aid and, of course, with the Ukrainian community.
“It is so important to get this support in such a difficult time for Ukraine.
“It is really great to stand together, building bridges between Ukraine and Britain and uniting people around the values of freedom, democracy, dignity and community.”
View this post on Instagram
In April, fire services across the UK, with the support of Fire Aid, donated more than 15,000 pieces of firefighting equipment to Ukraine.
However, Goggin said the idea for Bristol to donate fire equipment was born out of work he did as lord mayor.
He explained: “I did some events with the Ukrainian community and just fell in love with their spirit, their joy and the fact they were here as refugees but were making a real contribution to the city.
“At the moment, they’re going through such a terrible time… some of the Russian tactics are to target the emergency services.
“They will fire a missile or bomb at a certain spot and then wait, by which time the Ukrainian firefighters are there and then they’ll send another bomb to try and kill them as well.”
Ahead of the Bristol convoy’s departure, Mark Cook, chief fire officer at Avon Fire and Rescue, said “the fire service is a global family”
Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, more than 100 firefighters in the country have been killed and more than 430 have been injured.
Although Goggin admitted he was “nervous” about travelling to an active war zone, nothing was going to stop him from making the trip.
He said: “When I was in hospital a couple of years ago, and was very ill and my wife was told five times I was going to die, I managed to pull through…I decided after that, that I was going to try and use whatever time I have left on this earth, to do meaningful things. And this is such a meaningful thing.”
Giving a speech ahead of the Bristol convoy’s departure, Mark Cook, chief fire officer at Avon Fire and Rescue, said: “Today (August 24) is more than just a donation. It’s about solidarity.
“It’s about recognising the incredible sacrifices of our Ukrainian Fire Service colleagues, who have seen their fire stations destroyed and lost friends and fellow firefighters in the line of duty.
“The fire service is a global family. When one of us suffers, we all feel it.
“This is why we, as a fire service and as a community, feel so strongly to pull together and help our Ukrainian colleagues.
“This convoy…is a symbol of hope, a symbol that shows our communities care, connect and stand together, even across borders.”
All photos: Seun Matiluko
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
