Leeds Ukrainian Community Association (LUCA) was founded in 2022 and is run entirely by volunteers. LUCA has been helping victims of the war since the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It supports Ukraine through humanitarian aid, supporting Ukrainians living in Yorkshire, and morale support for Ukrainian troops training in the UK.

Convoy team with aid

Trustees from Leeds Ukrainian Community Association (LUCA) recently travelled to Ukraine on a volunteer mission to deliver a donated pick-up truck and humanitarian aid to support medical evacuations for injured soldiers defending the country. LUCA supports Ukraine through humanitarian aid, supporting Ukrainians living in Yorkshire, and morale support for Ukrainian troops training in the UK. 

“LUCA is at the centre of Leeds support for Ukraine. As both a Leeds MP and the Chair of the Parliamentary Group for Ukraine, I am absolutely delighted this mission took place and commend the bravery of the volunteers who were in Ukraine during some of the worst air attacks on civilians by Russia since the war began.”
Alex Sobel, MP for Leeds Central and Headingley and UK Trade Envoy to Ukraine said

The trustees set off on Saturday 6 June as part of a five-vehicle convoy, joining LUCA’s Lithuanian partners, Sesios AM and the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union, to drive through Poland into Ukraine. The convoy carried hundreds of kilograms of aid, and four of the vehicles, including LUCA’s, are being donated to soldiers and will remain in Ukraine.

Signing convoy vehicle / Matas Vaišnoras

On the way, the group visited Ukrainian troops training in the UK as part of Operation Interflex, made an aid delivery in Lviv, and had the donated vehicle signed by Iryna Zakharova, Mayor of Borodyanka, near Kyiv.

Burning building in Kyiv / Matas Vaišnoras

The mission also visited the Lithuanian Ukrainian Lyceum, rebuilt with funding from the Lithuanian government. LUCA donated sports equipment to the school last year, and children were using it during the visit. The school doubles as a bomb shelter for 700 local residents.

“We were proud to help drive this donated vehicle from Leeds to Poland on behalf of all of our volunteers and supporters. Our LUCA volunteer then travelled on into Ukraine with the vehicle, working with our trusted partners to help deliver life-saving aid to schools, hospitals, local aid teams and people operating in some of the hardest-hit areas. Every donation from Leeds helps keep that support moving.”
Ben McDougall, a trustee at LUCA

The group went on to deliver medical supplies to volunteers in Poltava and to a hospital in Izyum. In eastern Ukraine, they also saw a car donated by LUCA on an earlier mission still in active use, and visited a charity in Kramatorsk that has previously received food aid from LUCA.

Drone nets over road 2 / Matas Vaišnoras

LUCA is already raising funds for its next aid mission this autumn. Find out more at www.leeds-uca.co.uk

Leeds Ukrainian Community Association (LUCA)

Visit Website