21 Toyota Land Cruiser J78 off-road vehicles, equipped to work under challenging conditions in territories with destroyed infrastructure, were handed over to Ukraine by representatives of the charity association "Free Ukraine". Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko took part in the car handover ceremony.
"Today we are strengthening Ukrainian doctors. We hand over to disaster medicine teams powerful cars that will save people's lives and health in extreme wartime situations. Doctors and all medical personnel work in conditions close to combat. In 24/7 mode, under fire, in mined territories. Like our fighters at the front, they are the heroes of this war. I sincerely thank everyone for their dedication to their work and love for people and Ukraine," said Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.
The vehicles will deliver disaster medicine to civilian medical teams that will respond to emergencies, including missile attacks, in all corners of Ukraine, especially in frontline and de-occupied territories.
"Ukraine's system of disaster medicine heroically copes with a heavy workload every day and saves lives every minute. The chances of saving military and civilian victims of war increase when they can receive high-quality and fast medical care. So such machines can effectively help our heroic doctors win the battle for their patients. I am grateful to everyone who stood side by side with Ukraine and supports us in such a difficult time. Together we will defeat the enemy and save more than one hundred human lives and, therefore Ukrainian families," Viktor Lyashko emphasized.
The Ukrainian-Swiss association "Free Ukraine" has already handed over 30 such SUVs to Ukraine. Another 70 will be delivered in the coming months.
The project is financed by "Free Ukraine" in cooperation with international partners: the World Health Organization, the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the company AstraZeneca, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Commonwealth of Nations of Great Britain, charitable organizations "British-Ukrainian Aid", "Aide Médicale et Caritative France-Ukraine", "Yellowblue Force Foundation", "Canada-Ukraine Foundation" with the support of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.