Retired London ambulances donated to Ukraine

London Ambulance Service has donated 59 decommissioned ambulances to Ukraine to help provide care for those in warzones or civilians injured as the country remains at war.

The ambulances have been handed over to the charity British-Ukrainian Aid as they have gone out of service.

The latest donation of nine ambulances have now been delivered to the frontline.

Chris Rutherford, Fleet Modernisation Manager at London Ambulance Service, said

“The ambulances have reached the end of their service in the capital but they can still help to save lives in Ukraine.

“We are very proud we can do this and our thoughts remain with our counterparts working on ambulances caring for those injured in the conflict.”

The ambulances were no longer being used by LAS frontline crews as the Service has invested in a fleet of greener vehicles.

The total of 59 include 10 retired ambulances that were donated at the start of the war when a team of volunteers drove the vehicles filled with medical supplies to Poland so they could be taken over the border to Ukraine to bolster humanitarian efforts.

Back in 2022 the 26 London Ambulance volunteers drove 1,100 miles over three days to deliver the ambulances.

They had been filled with donated medical equipment from NHS organisations across London, including ventilators, syringe pumps, tourniquets, wound dressings, blizzard blankets and personal protective equipment.

Since then Ukrainian drivers have collected the ambulances which have been loaded onto lorries and delivered to where they are needed most.

Nadia Pylypchuk from British-Ukrainian Aid said:

“In Ukraine any equipment or any help really matters – whether it is big or small.

“We cannot thank the London Ambulance Service enough for their kind donations which are saving lives. The ambulances are used on the frontline and to treat civilians.”