The UK’s leading emergency vehicle builder Venari UK has delivered the first 8 of 14 armoured ambulances to Ukraine, procured by Directorate of Defence – Luxembourg as part of their ongoing support for Ukraine’s war efforts.
The British built ambulances are being deployed to Ukraine to support the brave medics working on the frontline.
When the Ukrainian Embassy in London contacted Venari’s CEO Oliver North last year, the company’s 120,000sq.ft. of shopfloor space – in Goole and Brighouse – was commandeered for the Ukrainian effort.
The ambulances are being built on former British army vehicles and are now being comprehensively stripped, overhauled, modernised and converted into ambulances by Venari’s highly skilled team.
Ukraine has lost ambulances at an increasingly rapid rate so Venari is building vehicles designed to carry greater numbers of casualties. With all-terrain capability, they allow increased manoeuvrability for both paramedics and patients and allow medical teams to treat people who they may not otherwise be able to reach. The armoured variants also provide ballistic protection from small arms fire on the front line to allow safer extractions.
When Russia first invaded Ukraine, Chairman Oliver North and Conservative MP Andrew Percy worked around the clock to communicate with the Ukrainian embassy and donors, and Venari’s engineering and production team sprung into immediate action, to ensure that every inch of their vehicles were designed with the sole intention of saving as many lives as possible.
“When we got the call, we jumped into action immediately,” said Oliver. “As the UK’s oldest and largest ambulance builder, we truly feel that it is our duty to deliver on this project, with as much passion, precision, and speed as we possibly can.
“Andrew Percy has been an integral part of the project, and wholeheartedly shares our sense of obligation to drive the project for the inspirational people of Ukraine. Our team have been relentless and tireless in their efforts, knowing that each vehicle completion will play a part in saving lives. And as many of us are former military personnel, we feel like we’re operating in a very familiar arena.”
MP for Goole, Andrew Percy, added: “My role has been to connect all the parties and work to secure the funding for this project and that work continues as we want to send as many ambulances to Ukraine as possible. I am also so proud that Goole workers and our manufacturing base are once again helping to protect freedom and democracy just as we did in World War 2 when we helped construct the Mulberry Harbours for the liberation of Europe.
“I cannot praise Oliver and the workers at Venari enough for their incredible efforts, working through the night to get this project up and running. Their efforts have been amazing and they should all be very proud of what they are doing to keep medical professionals and patients in Ukraine safe. Once again, Goole has proven itself!”
To find out more about Venari UK click here.
Photo credits: Venari UK
