Yukoners’ support for Ukraine’s defence against Russian forces will need a bigger suitcase – in fact, an actual medical evacuation vehicle – paid for by Yukoners.

The Volkswagen T5, sourced in western Europe, will be driven into Ukraine by members of the Ukrainian Canadian Association of Yukon (UCAY) between March 10-12, it was announced Wednesday.

The 4x4 evacuation vehicle is ready to be filled to the brim with antibiotics from Health Partners International Canada (HPIC), equipment from Yukon Health and the Yukon Hospital Corp., and radios, laptops, and other items donated by Yukoners to support Ukraine.

Association president Jeff Sloychuk, 42, and board member Taras Yurkiv, 48, both of Whitehorse, say they are excited, albeit anxious, to get the job done on behalf of UCAY and Yukoners.

“As this is our third mission into Ukraine, we wanted to get everything right,” said Sloychuk.

“We have pinpointed the exact humanitarian and military needs through ongoing discussions with our Ukrainian partners from Chortkiv to Yuzhnoukrains’k, and are excited to get in and out safely, with pride and great purpose.”

Chortkiv Mayor Volodymyr Shmatko, after his visit to Yukon last fall, said he is excited for the return visit.

“We very much look forward to the next visit by our Yukon family, and especially their delivery of a critical item – an evacuation vehicle capable of reaching the roughest of roads near the front lines,” Shmatko said in a statement released by UCAY.

“We thank the residents of our newest sister city of Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, for their generous hearts, and indeed all the Yukon for their spirit.

“With friends like you, Ukraine will win,” the mayor said.

As in previous missions, UCAY will be delivering critical antibiotics to the Yuzhnoukrains’k Municipal Hospital in Central Ukraine through its partnership with HPIC.

The partnership with the Whitehorse Firefighters Charitable Society has yielded enough money to buy the medical evacuation vehicle for Chortkiv, Whitehorse’s newest sister city.

There’s only one missing component which Yukoners can help with between now and early March: additional supplies and gear around their offices and homes to fill up the ride – along with a little gas money.

“We still need more basic stuff that we know Yukoners can deliver,” said Sloychuk.

“Waterproof or winter boots with removable liners, drones, laptops and battery packs, and even older digital cameras and cell phones are still on the list. (Cell phones should be reset to factory settings and include charging cables.)

“Sadly, we can’t bring ammunition or surface-to-air missiles, but we hope Yukoners are speaking with friends in government or in the United States to help that support reach Ukraine also.”

Other needed items are large suitcases, two-way radios/walkie-talkies, Go Pros, GPS Units, solar power banks, binoculars, range finders, sights and scopes (especially thermal imaging), eye/ear protection (ballistic rated), mechanic gloves, Tylenol, Advil, Gravol, other over-the-counter medications for pain, nausea, flu and cold, multivitamins, bandages, dressings, gauze and military first aid kits.

Donations of needed items can be dropped off at North End Gallery in Horwoods Mall during regular business hours, Monday to Saturday.

UCAY’s fundraising campaign to help transport the evacuation vehicle into Ukraine remains active at https://www.afterthefireisout.com/yukon-ukraine.