A HUGE effort is underway at a farm as volunteers prepare to transport 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid to stricken Ukrainians.

Admirals Farm, on Heckford’s Road, Great Bentley, has become the site of a major logistical operation as Ruslan Postupalenko – a 23-year-old university graduate – co-ordinates the transport of lorries full of essential items to help Ukrainians suffering from the Russian invasion.

After being born in England to Ukrainian parents, Mr Postupalenko’s family moved to Ukraine before returning to England in 2007.

Gazette: Essentials – a total of 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid will be transported to UkraineEssentials – a total of 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid will be transported to Ukraine

But following the outbreak of the war, and with many of Mr Postupalenko’s family still in Ukraine, both he and his father Oleksandr are doing everything in their power to help those in danger.

He said: “My dad has a haulage company and I have a truck rental company. I saw people collecting stuff and I knew it was going to be a problem actually getting the stuff over there.

“It’s quite complex, so I decided this was what I was going to do to help.”

The main part of the operation taking place at the farm in Great Bentley is loading the food, shelter, clothing, medicines, and sanitary items on to lorries before they set off for Ukraine.

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“A lot of groups are collecting aid, but they haven’t put anything on a lorry before – that’s what we’re doing,” Mr Postupalenko explained.

Mr Postupalenko’s father has already driven to Ukraine with one truck full of essentials, but when he returns it is hoped there will be trucks ready to head back to the war-torn country, with one of the lorries being driven by a volunteer from Colchester.

There are still members of the Postupalenko family in Ukraine, but Ruslan explained what he is doing in Great Bentley helps him cope.

Gazette: Life saving – clothing, medicines, and sanitary items are being transported to help UkrainiansLife saving – clothing, medicines, and sanitary items are being transported to help Ukrainians

“I’m focussing on humanitarian aid to Ukraine – I’m making sure I do that because it helps me try and take my mind off it,” he said.

Support has also come from organisations such as A2B Online, which has lent trailers to be transported to Ukraine, and DC Transport and Engineering, which is covering fuel costs.