The Norwegian voluntary organisation Ukrainian Freedom Convoys has handed over 21 vehicles to units of the Ukrainian Defence Forces. This was announced on 13 September by Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga. The vehicles are to be used by a number of military units, including the 66th Separate Mechanised Brigade and the 107th Separate Territorial Defence Brigade.
Briefly about the main points
- Units of the Defence Forces have received vehicles from a Norwegian voluntary organisation.
- Among the recipients listed are the 66th Mechanised Brigade and the 107th Transport Brigade.
- The vehicles are purchased using private donations.
- The equipment is manufactured in Norway and brought over by volunteers.
- Since 2022, the initiative has delivered 550 vehicles in 37 convoys.
Vehicles for several military units
Siberia He noted that the vehicles received are intended to support several units, in particular the 66th Separate Mechanised Brigade and the 107th Separate Territorial Defence Brigade.
Ukrainian Freedom Convoys has been operating since March 2022, and in September 2023 the volunteer initiative was registered as an association in Norway. At the end of June, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Oleksandr Mishchenko took part in the ceremony to hand over the organisation’s latest aid consignment.
According to the initiative itself, its activities are funded by private donations and voluntary work, without any state funding. Consequently, this delivery should not be counted as part of Norway’s intergovernmental support programmes for Ukraine.
How a Norwegian initiative prepares and delivers cars
According to Foreign Ministers, the vehicles are purchased using private donations, manufactured in Norway, and then delivered to Ukraine volunteers. This scheme combines fundraising, the technical preparation of vehicles and transport in convoys.
On its website, Ukrainian Freedom Convoys states that it usually purchases four-wheel-drive pick-up trucks, off-road vehicles and vans. The organisation is also raising funds for generators and large battery packs.
Since it began operations in 2022, the initiative has delivered 550 vehicles to Ukraine as part of 37 convoys. Sibiga cited these figures whilst announcing a new delivery of equipment.
