For Shaun Hopkins from the Welsh town of Tredegar, helping Ukraine has become not just a volunteering activity, but a life mission. An entrepreneur and Scout volunteer, he has made over 53 humanitarian trips to Ukraine, covering thousands of kilometres across European roads and witnessing hundreds of sunsets along the way.
Shaun Hopkins
From Customs Documents to Large-Scale Humanitarian Mission
“Seeing the horror of the illegal full-scale invasion and civilians killed while fleeing, I simply couldn’t stand aside,” says Shaun. His determination to help only strengthened after personal meetings with Azovstal defenders in a Kyiv hospital and communications with Ukrainians who received vital medical assistance.
Australian aid to Hospital in Dnipro
Shaun’s volunteer work began with providing customs documentation assistance for volunteers at ports. This soon evolved into coordinating ferry transportation for more than 200 multi-vehicle convoys from Harwich and Dover. A real breakthrough came through collaboration with the Ukrainian Catholic University and the establishment of a logistics chain from Australia. In partnership with Dr. Liz Paslawsky, Shaun personally delivered orthopaedic aid worth 20 million Australian dollars to hospitals in Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, and Ternopil.
Ternopil, a city in Ukraine
“According to surgeons’ estimates, the medical aid we delivered has saved around 40,000 limbs,” the volunteer notes with pride. Shaun’s activities extend far beyond medical assistance. One of his unusual projects involved helping the Kyiv Botanical Gardens transport an endangered species of prehistoric tree, of which only 200 specimens remain in the world.
Collecting supplies and aid
Challenges, Losses, and Future Plans
Collecting from one of several Hospitals in Wales
Today, the volunteer collaborates with dozens of organizations, including Ukrainian Action (UK), Wheels of Victory (UA), Ukraine Torch (USA), and many others. “We help with everything: from books for refugees to medical equipment and logistics,” explains Shaun. Despite local community support, the volunteer work faces serious challenges. The organization has accumulated over £40,000 in credit card debt maintaining the daily operations of UK4UA.ORG. “We continue to fight for charitable status,” he says, referring to a petition to Parliament regarding numerous rejections from the Charity Commission.
Behind hundreds of days on the road lie thousands of human stories. “I will never forget the meetings and shared meals with other volunteers in Ukraine,” Shaun shares with sadness. “Some of these friends have, unfortunately, been killed while volunteering.”
Medical aid to Kyiv Hospital
Despite the difficulties, Shaun has ambitious plans. He is working on launching Dragonaid.org.uk, a project aimed at recycling unused or expired medical equipment. “We need help with collecting essential items and funds for fuel and repairs,” notes the volunteer. When asked about his message to Ukrainians and other volunteers, Shaun responds simply and confidently: “We will win together!”
Shaun Hopkins: “Many sunsets I have seen on the road across Europe and Ukraine with over 500 days driving”.
If you want to support Shaun Hopkins and his team’s activities, you can contact them:
- Twitter: @uk4ua
- Facebook: UK4UA
- YouTube: @uk4ua
- Website: https://uk4ua.org
By Viktor Moroz for Ukrainians.Wales
Published: Jan, 2025
