By Liz Lawrence and Sacha Ismail
The people of Ukraine need our solidarity more than ever – for more on the situation in Ukraine see below. Since 2022 Ukraine Solidarity Campaign has delivered vehicles and aid to Ukraine on many solidarity delegations and visits. This is an important part of our solidarity work. We are currently fundraising for a new winter aid appeal, in conjunction with the International solidarity Convoy to Ukraine which sets out late in November 2026.
We are seeking to raise at least £25,000 to purchase vehicles and aid for a number of labour movement-connected causes in Ukraine, including:
• Education materials for a school in Kryvyi Rih
• Education materials for a college in Kryvyi Rih
• A vehicle and equipment for mine rescue workers
• A pick-up truck, motorcycle and equipment for defenders of Kharkiv
You can read more detail about this appeal on the Crowdfunder for it here.
We hope to deliver the vehicles and aid as part of the convoy, but that will require us to raise the funds very fast so we can source aid in time. Please donate, share and ask your union / union branch or other organisation for a donation too. Model motions for use in unions etc here. If you have any other ideas for fundraising or want to help or send questions more generally, get in touch: info@ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org
Objectives
The proposal for an International Solidarity Convoy to Ukraine was developed in INSU (the International Network in Support of Ukraine), of which USC is an affiliate. As well as trade unions in a number of countries INSU has developed partnerships with NGOs and other organisations with experience of delivering aid to Ukraine.
The convoy had three main objectives
• remind the world of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and Ukraine’s struggle;
• deliver humanitarian aid to Ukraine;
• strengthen links with civil society organisations in Ukraine, including trade unions, environmental, feminist and LGBT groups.
USC Scotland is also participating in the convoy. They have held a successful fundraiser to purchase a minibus and are now fundraising for educational materials. The minibus will be used to take Ukrainian children to a summer camp.
Union support
The convoy is attracting increasing support from trade unions in Europe and beyond, including the UGT (Catalonia), University and College Union (UK), Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (Belgium), General Federation of Belgian Labour, Theatre and Performing Arts Trade Union (Norway), Union Syndicale Suisse and Vermont Teachers Union.
Elected representatives, including Members of the European Parliament, Members of the Scottish Parliament, and Ukraine Solidarity Associations, as well as many individuals have signed the appeal for the convoy.
Routes
The convoy will have three routes. The Southern route departs from Barcelona and travels via France, with a meeting in Strasbourg, to Ukraine. The Central route departs from Edinburgh, and hopefully London, then to Brussels, Berlin, Warsaw and into Ukraine. The Northern route from Scandinavia will join the convoy in Warsaw. Public meetings and events will be held along the route of the convoy to promote public awareness about the situation in Ukraine and build solidarity.
The situation in Ukraine
Ukrainians face the fifth winter of wartime conditions. Last winter was very hard, with Ukrainians dying of hypothermia and others suffering greatly from very cold weather. Humanitarian aid must reach the Ukrainian people before winter sets in. 10.8 million Ukrainians need humanitarian aid. There are millions of internally displaced people in Ukraine – 14% of housing has been destroyed. The bombing has affected schools, universities, hospitals and residential areas. Railways and power stations have been targeted. The loss of electricity and heating affects ability to work and study and impacts negatively on health.
Russia’s bombing campaign is a deliberate strategy to break the Ukrainian people. Civilian casualties are increasing. Bombing schools, hospitals, civilian infrastructure, housing constitutes a war crime, wherever it happens in the world.
Ukrainian school children and students need aid too. They need educational materials. In areas near the front line many Ukrainian children are studying in underground schools because of the regular bombing. This presents particular challenges for teachers, supporting learning in such conditions. Education is part of the defence of Ukraine.
Trump is now siding openly with Putin against Ukraine, attacking the right of Ukrainians to choose their president and defend their territory. He is proposing talks about the future of Ukraine, without Ukrainians present at the table. This is a monstrous alliance of dictators and would-be dictators. Many decent people world-wide are outraged by this betrayal of Ukraine. Now is the time to redouble our solidarity efforts and stand with Ukraine.
How you can help
• Donate to the USC appeal for aid;
• Ask your union / union branch, student group, community group or other organisation to donate to the aid appeal and to support the convoy;
• Share this call and the convoy appeal on social media (and sign the latter);
• Volunteer – there are a variety of ways you can help. Email info@ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org
Website
The convoy website is updated regularly, with added names of sponsors and more activities about the convoy. Please bookmark the convoy website and check it regularly.
