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Life on the frontline: Race to bring food to liberated areas as Russians leave locals to starve

Telegraph, 29 Sep 2022
Jack Ross is a British volunteer aid worker helping to deliver supplies to the Ukrainian front line.
He returned to Ukraine from his UK home as soon as news broke of the Ukrainian army's successful Kharkiv offensive.

"My role in going over there early is to make sure that recently liberated people have enough food to survive." Said Jack explaining his initial plan was to return in November before the counter-offensive changed everything. Adding: "We saw after the Russians stopped occupying places like Bucha, Irpin and Chernihiv they literally killed every living being in sight… Just to deprive the local population of any food sources."

His return was so last minute, he had to do without his usual band of British-led Vans Without Borders volunteers, instead enlisting the help of Eduard and Justin who provided the necessary support as they travelled along dangerous bombed-out roads.

En route, they met Commander Oleg Shiryaev, who was pivotal in granting them outsider access to the heavily restricted Kharkiv areas.
After giving aid to people living in Izyum, Jack and his team headed to Donetsk, to give food to rural villagers living close to the frontline. Their time there was cut short as security advisors warned anyone who was not military personnel to evacuate due to a 'Russian rocket attack in Kramatorsk'.
"It’s concerning when our security advisor friends said they’ve left already and we’ve got to get out sharpish," said Jack as he and his team packed up and sped out of Donestk.

Jack and the Vans Without Borders team will stay in Ukraine, as the army liberates more territory along the frontline.

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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/09/03/life-frontline-british-fighters-selfie-sticks-idiots/

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