When Russia's war with Ukraine began, a small band of volunteers felt driven to help, but they had little idea that they would be dedicating the next two years to saving lives.
From travelling thousands of kilometres in snow and ice to deliver aid and equipment to Ukrainian hospitals to saving the lives of injured soldiers on the frontline or repatriating the dead, the group has been striving to do their bit to bring a humanitarian victory to Ukraine.
Ewan Cameron, from Scotland, first went to Ukraine a month after the war broke out to help rescue a friend, but the tragedy he witnessed there inspired him to stay and help.
He set up the charity ReactAid to bring in medical supplies and to help evacuate the wounded.
His team compromises trauma medics with a mutual desire to help.
Manchester midwife Wendy Warrington met Mr Cameron as she helped refugees to flee the conflict.
Inspired by her Polish grandfather George Bielski, who survived Auschwitz and gave evidence at the Nuremberg trials, Ms Warrington travelled to Poland at the outbreak of the conflict.
When she saw the devastation, she was compelled to leave the safety of the border and use her medical skills closer to the lines of Russian attack.
Now she and Mr Cameron have built a network of medics whom they supply with equipment, from incubators to ultrasound machines and clothes.
British men rescue dozens of injured soldiers
Mr Cameron and co-worker Craig Borthwick, a former counter-terrorism officer, do more than merely supply hospitals.
Conducting midnight missions to rescue troops from the trenches at the heart of Ukraine’s war is a far cry from Mr Cameron's earlier career as a DJ opening for Basement Jaxx and Calvin Harris.
But when he found himself caught up in the war while on a mission to rescue a friend he decided to train as a trauma medic.
“When we first crossed the border, there were 10,000 people queuing. It was like a football stadium emptying but it just didn’t stop. We saw people lying down in the snow and then we realised they were dead. We knew we needed to do more,” he told The National.
“Originally, I went to Ukraine to help one person but my heart wouldn’t let me go home. There were too many children dying, it was awful. I had strangers trying to hand me their children asking me to save them.
“We realised if we could help one person, we could help another and it just snowballed.
“I didn’t envisage any of this. We are not soldiers, we just go off and do our mission and try to save people.
“We try to give the same care as we would if they were our own family members. We have been very successful and are driven by a goal to help.”
Working with a network of international volunteers, they hire planes and equipment and go to the frontline.
To date, they have saved the lives of dozens of medics and troops.
“We started helping evacuate international volunteers when they got hurt. They were like James Bond-style missions, we’d hire helicopters through our contacts to take them to Germany or Poland,” he said.
“We go to the hardest hit places to get the fallen.”
The team rescued British volunteer fighter Shareef Amin from the trenches.
They then had to take him 600 kilometres across Ukraine to get him to the border and a plane to life-saving treatment in the UK.
In another case, they helped US Army Iraq veteran Brian Harlow, who was in Ukraine helping to train troops.
He stepped on a landmine, resulting in the loss of his right lower leg. It took seven hours to evacuate him.
For all their successes, they have dealt with immense sadness.
At Christmas, they helped to repatriate the body of Bristol University graduate Katherine Mielniczukm 26, who went to Ukraine to use her medical skills.
This month, they are planning a mammoth mission to move 130 elderly and orphans from the east of Ukraine to the west.
Midwife's life-saving incubators
Ms Warrington is inspired by her family history.
“My grandfather was in Auschwitz for two years before he was liberated and was a key witness at Nuremberg,” she said.
“My great grandmother and her sister were killed there (Auschwitz), so when the war started two years ago and I saw what was happening, it resonated with me,” she told The National.
“Being a midwife, I couldn’t sit back and watch when I saw the scenes of queues, in the freezing conditions, of children and babies. I speak Polish and I found myself an official place to go to the crossing to help on March 13, 2022.
“I realised we were not seeing any pregnant women, so I started going around and explaining I was a midwife and word spread,” she said.
“Gradually I began helping pregnant women who had been standing for hours on packed trains, in freezing conditions and often had not felt their babies move.
“I was able to give them check-ups and reassure them and check their baby’s heartbeats and the mums would just cry with relief. From there, I started to go to the train station, where people were coming in, to help them directly.”
What was meant to be a three-week mission took up two years of her life.
“I promised my family I would not cross into Ukraine but within a week I took an ambulance full of aid into Mariupol and Lviv to a children’s hospital and started to evacuate children with cancer,” she said.
“We take MOM incubators which are highly portable and do not have to be plugged in, so if a baby is born in a bunker or needs evacuating during the bombing to a place of safety they can be saved.”
The incubators cost £11,500 each and a Rotary Club charity helped to buy them.
Without her team of supporters across the UK, Ms Warrington's work would be impossible.
An army of knitters and fund-raisers
“I support a children’s centre in Kharkiv and I get a monthly cargo of aid from Huddersfield Voices of Ukraine. They ask me what I want and send it over,” she said.
“I have an army of knitters across the country knitting special blankets for the incubators, twiddle muffs for people with dementia, we make baby boxes with hats, bootees and cardigans, toiletries for the mums and knitted blue and yellow hearts with messages for the mums to let them know we are thinking about them.”
This month will be Ms Warrington's 17th mission to Ukraine. Looking into the eyes of the young people she is helping keeps her going.
“All I can see is my grandchildren, my children. It just seems so close to home, and I hope someone like me would get off their backsides and go to help if this was my family,” she said.
Food and weapons for the troops
British volunteer Richard Woodruff was selling advertising for a business magazine when he was moved by a video of Russian tanks rolling into Ukraine.
It led to him leaving the UK to go to help feed and supply Ukrainian troops.
“For the first six months, I helped in the kitchens and made dehydrated meals for the troops,” he said.
“They didn’t have enough food and supplies and there were no logistics in place for hundreds of thousands of men. Lots of food was being made by grandmothers in their homes, and I was sent out to deliver it for six months.
“I started up a social media account to appeal for frontline kit and to document my life as a volunteer.’’
With more than 62,000 followers on X, Mr Woodruff raises funds for everything from food parcels and thermal imaging drones to rebuilding schools and homes.
“We find out what they need on the ground in real-time so we can really understand what’s going on. They really need more thermal weapon drones. They can fly up high and view the whole battlefield and see the Russian troops glowing in the dark so they can see if they are running to their positions,” he said.
“I have no regrets about what we are doing,” he said.
“There is not a single day I take off from working towards victory. The first day I will take a break is when the war is over, but only for a day before the rebuilding begins.”
Two years of the Russia-Ukraine war – in pictures
more from Janine di Giovanni
TEST SQUADS
Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed.
Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson and Jackson Bird.
More on Quran memorisation:
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The specs: 2019 Audi A8
Price From Dh390,000
Engine 3.0L V6 turbo
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 345hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy, combined 7.5L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Crime%20Wave
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The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:
Juventus 1 Ajax 2
Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate
The squad traveling to Brazil:
Faisal Al Ketbi, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Khalfan Humaid Balhol, Khalifa Saeed Al Suwaidi, Mubarak Basharhil, Obaid Salem Al Nuaimi, Saeed Juma Al Mazrouei, Saoud Abdulla Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Zayed Saif Al Mansoori, Saaid Haj Hamdou, Hamad Saeed Al Nuaimi. Coaches Roberto Lima and Alex Paz.
Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
MATCH INFO
Kolkata Knight Riders 245/6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 214/8 (20 ovs)
Kolkata won by 31 runs
Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
Brief scores:
Everton 2
Walcott 21', Sigurdsson 51'
Tottenham 6
Son 27', 61', Alli 35', Kane 42', 74', Eriksen 48'
Man of the Match: Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Wimbledon order of play on Saturday, July 8
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Centre Court (4pm)
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Timea Bacsinszky (19)
Ernests Gulbis v Novak Djokovic (2)
Mischa Zverev (27) v Roger Federer (3)
Court 1 (4pm)
Milos Raonic (6) v Albert Ramos-Vinolas (25)
Anett Kontaveit v Caroline Wozniacki (5)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Jared Donaldson
Court 2 (2.30pm)
Sorana Cirstea v Garbine Muguruza (14)
To finish: Sam Querrey (24) leads Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 6-5
Angelique Kerber (1) v Shelby Rogers
Sebastian Ofner v Alexander Zverev (10)
Court 3 (2.30pm)
Grigor Dimitrov (13) v Dudi Sela
Alison Riske v Coco Vandeweghe (24)
David Ferrer v Tomas Berdych (11)
Court 12 (2.30pm)
Polona Hercog v Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Gael Monfils (15) v Adrian Mannarino
Court 18 (2.30pm)
Magdalena Rybarikova v Lesia Tsurenko
Petra Martic v Zarina Diyas
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Players Selected for La Liga Trials
U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian
Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco
Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French
Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian
U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Match info
Manchester United 4
(Pogba 5', 33', Rashford 45', Lukaku 72')
Bournemouth 1
(Ake 45 2')
Red card: Eric Bailly (Manchester United)
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
World Cup final
Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region
SCORES
Multiply Titans 81-2 in 12.1 overs
(Tony de Zorzi, 34)
bt Auckland Aces 80 all out in 16 overs
(Shawn von Borg 4-15, Alfred Mothoa 2-11, Tshepo Moreki 2-16).
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
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