Officers from GMB and other trade unions have delivered vehicles and medical equipment to Ukraine. 

The supplies, including a heavy 4x4 pickup vehicle to their counterparts in Ukraine, will be used by the XX Battalion of the territorial defence, based in East Ukraine.  

This is the first of several planned deliveries by UK trade unions. 

The unit, which is largely staffed by miners, put out a call for funds, medical supplies, and vehicles last month via the Ukrainian miners' union PRUP.  

 Unions, including GMB, National Union of Mineworkers and ASLEF responded with donations totalling more than £20,000. 

The pickup, a Mitsubishi L200 was driven to Lviv, Ukraine, by Wayne Thomas [NUM Vice President and Area Secretary for the South Wales NUM] and Mick Antoniw MS, [Labour Member of the Welsh Senedd for Pontypridd], who is of Ukrainian descent. 

They were met by Sergey Yunak, head of the PRUP miners' union and Andriy Denysov, a Battalion Commander. 

In addition to the vehicle, the team took vital medical equipment, including tourniquets, chest seals and blood clotting agents used to treat casualties, plus two CPR training kits, torches, and vital spare tyres for the vehicle. 

 Barbara Plant, GMB President, said: 

“GMB has strong internationalist values and we are glad we could support the workers convoy to Ukraine. 

“GMB is proud to support Ukrainian workers in their struggle for freedom against Putin's brutal assault and that's why it's essential that UK unions provide both moral and material aid to those on the frontline.”