By Debbie Playfair

Farmers up and down Scotland have been doing their utmost to help out as much as possible in war-torn Ukraine, and while it is almost two years since the Russians invaded, humanitarian aid and vehicles are still desperately needed.

While Hamas' bombardment of the Gaza Strip early October has curtailed the media coverage of the conflict, the work of Pickups 4 Peace, a farmer-to-farmer charity established to help those tied up in the war in Ukraine, remain crucial to their agricultural industry.

I farm in the Scottish Borders with my husband and son. When I learnt of the work of the Pickups 4 Peace charity, I wanted to help.

The charity delivers aid exactly to the right people in the right place. Many people throughout the UK have driven out vehicles packed full of essential items, be it spades, generators, surgical equipment, spare 4x4 tyres, etc., it all helps. Fishing nets are the most unusual item as these are used to protect infrastructure from drones.

Recently I joined the 10th convoy as co-driver with Neil Thomson from Caverton Mill. We were part of a two-vehicle, four-driver team leaving from our village of Morebattle, travelling overnight to Amsterdam, then another 600 miles to our next overnight stop.

Drivers and their vehicles have come from all over the UK to assist with the transport. Rendezvousing on the Polish side of the Border the next morning we crossed over and with a police escort were ‘blue-lighted’ into the centre of Lviv. Some 38 vehicles were handed over on this trip, making a total of 260 successful deliveries to date.

We had the opportunity to visit the Central Plains Group Farm that is pivotal to make this charity work happen. The visit was an eye opener with currently 20% of Ukraine’s wonderful farmland no longer able to be cropped due to occupation by Russian troops and the mines which now average 11 per square metre!

The enormity of the situation was brought home to us when we visited one of the many cemeteries in Lviv which grows bigger by the day. Each grave is decorated with flags, flowers and a photograph. You see the cheeky grin of an 18-year-old and think I know somebody just like that. The ages range from 18 to 60 and they look just like people we know and love at home.

The farewell meal was followed by an auction, and the generosity was truly astonishing with more than £19,000 being raised by the 70 drivers of the convoy digging deep into their pockets. This money will fund the purchase of four or five new vehicles for the next convoy.

Can you supply a vehicle? They need to be roadworthy, have an MOT and good tyres. Convoys are leaving every other month, if you have a vehicle or equipment, or can drive – you can help. Just visit pickupsforpeace.co.uk or www.justgiving.com/pickupsforpeace.

We met many local people and heard how appreciative they are of this help. Not only do these vehicles and supplies provide real, solid physical support for Ukraine by saving lives, they also give huge mental and moral support.

Making this journey made me fully appreciate how close this war is to us and how easily it could spill over the borders. Help is even more important now, given that this conflict has been superseded by the turmoil in the Middle East.

Putin has not gone away. We need to remember that they are, in reality, fighting not just for their own country but for each and every one of us. The Ukrainians are holding their ground for now, but for how long?