As proven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, wars usually don’t go in response to plan. This ends in surprising programs of motion, together with the distinctive makes use of of automobiles for navy motion. In an earlier submit, we mentioned how the Russian navy used wooden logs for armor on its convoy vehicles. In one other submit, we mentioned the way it drove ISIS-style pickup vehicles with mounted machine weapons. Now, used British automobiles, supplied by a Ukrainian comic and actor, help the Ukrainian navy’s frontline troops.
As reported by the Guardian, Serhiy Prytula, a Ukrainian actor and comic, established a fighters’ fund to ship “second-hand automobiles, pickup vehicles, and minivans purchased in Britain” to the frontline troops in Ukraine. Prytula starred in a sketch present referred to as “Faina Yukraina (Good Ukraine).” Nevertheless, he “now acts instead quartermaster to the Ukrainian armed forces.”
The used British autos in Ukraine nonetheless have the acquainted United Kingdom license plates. In addition they have a significantly cheaper worth — round half the price of the equal fashions in mainland Europe. A part of this is because of the truth that “right-hand automobiles should not in excessive demand internationally.”
Comic’s fund receives $9.2 million a month in donations for navy gear and automobiles
Prytula estimates that his fighters’ fund receives about £7 million (round $9.2 million) a month in donations. A lot of the cash is used to “stockpile and distribute navy gear, starting from bulletproof vests and thermal telescopes to binoculars, drones, medical kits, and electrical turbines.”
One other portion of the funds is for the acquisition of used British automobiles from dealerships and people within the U.Okay. Many of those sellers provide the automobiles for a “bargain.” Additionally, generally, sellers settle for “cryptocurrency as cost.” After their buy, the automobiles are ferried throughout the English Channel. Then, vehicles haul the automobiles to Ukraine, which generally takes 5 to 6 days. Upon reaching Ukraine, the automobiles are distributed to the Ukrainian navy forces that want them essentially the most.
The used automobiles have the nickname ‘hell rides’
To this point, 20 of the used automobiles made it to the Ukrainian frontlines. Volunteers in Ukraine gave the automobiles the nickname “hell rides.” One other 20 of those automobiles are within the “means of being bought.”
Maksym Kostetskyi, who manages the acquisition of the used British automobiles, described the very excessive demand from the Ukrainian navy. Many “items search automobiles, pickup vehicles, and SUVs.” He mentioned, “There’s a lengthy ready listing. However we’re very hopeful in that we have now companions in the UK who’re giving and offering the autos with decrease costs.”
He continued, “Normally in Europe, individuals don’t purchase them as a result of they’ve right-hand drive, however throughout this time within the conflict instances and within the subject, it is a nice time to purchase them.” Additionally, the Ukrainian navy drove used British automobiles when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014. “Quite a lot of Ukrainian troopers, they know the right way to drive this automotive with the steering wheel on the opposite facet,” Prytula mentioned.
Within the rush to get the used automobiles to the frontlines, the unique license plates stay
Previously, after taking on the automobiles, the Ukrainian navy blacked out the license plates. Nevertheless, this not often occurred within the early weeks of the conflict. The precedence was to “get the automobiles in motion quite than cope with the paperwork.”
As described by Kostetskyi, promoting used automobiles at a diminished worth is without doubt one of the finest ways in which individuals within the U.Okay. can assist Ukraine. He mentioned, “We have now companions over there that need to assist Ukrainians and need to assist all of us all the way in which they’ll. And we do imagine that this is without doubt one of the greatest ways in which the society and other people of United Kingdom might assist us as shopping for the identical automobiles in different international locations within the European Union prices twice as a lot.”
Whereas an surprising sight on the battlefields, the used British automobiles present a great addition to the Ukrainian navy.
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