A fleet of around 20 NHS ambulances will provide urgent care for those injured by Russian attacks in Ukraine following a donation from the UK.

The donation will help replace those Ukrainian ambulances lost to Russian attacks, bolstering the existing fleet’s resilience as the barbaric war goes on.

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is leading the way, donating four of its ambulances, with further donations from NHS trusts across the country soon to follow.

The first ambulances will arrive in Ukraine this week, destined for Lviv in the west of the country, where they will be transported on to those areas most in need. It is estimated more than 12 million people are currently in need of humanitarian assistance across Ukraine.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “The UK government has stood shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and provided them with the lifesaving medical equipment they need. The invasion has damaged key medical infrastructure and the generous donation of four ambulances by South Central Ambulance Service will ensure people in Ukraine can receive urgent care. It marks the first of many ambulances the UK government and the NHS is donating to Ukraine in the coming days.”

Paul Kempster, SCAS Chief Operating Officer, said: “Ambulance trusts around the country have been rallying to provide ambulances and we in SCAS are immensely humbled to also be able to support those in need in Ukraine. We hope that this small gesture goes some way to helping provide immediate frontline healthcare support to the many people who desperately need it.”