Ukraine aid items shipped south

NINE pallets of aid destined for people in need from Ukraine have been shipped from Shetland.

The aid donations, which were collected by Shetland Solidarity with Refugees, are headed to the Polish border first.

It is being transported by haulier DFDS, with the items sent south on Monday.

The company’s Bryan Hepburn said: “We’re taking it into Poland and to the centres there at the border.

“We have a presence in Poland anyway and we did have offices in Ukraine so we have colleagues directly affected by all this.

“To be fair we did also have depots in Russia and Belarus too but we’ve closed those as part of the solidarity with Ukraine.

“Which was also difficult to do because people are people no matter where they are and they have jobs and lives and the day to day.

“Something needed done though and we couldn’t continue working in those countries.”

Shetland Solidarity with Refugees said it was “so grateful for the are extremely thankful by the kindness and generosity everyone has shown” in donating aid items.

It also thanked DFDS, which ensued the donations will reach their destination and provide support to those in need.

The solidarity group had also raised around £16,000 for the Ukraine humanitarian appeal thanks to a pop-up shop in Lerwick.