A convoy of 20 vehicles donated to Ukraine as part of London’s ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) scrappage scheme arrived in the war-torn country over the weekend, a charity has said. British-Ukrainian Aid (BUAID) stated that the vehicles will be used for humanitarian and medical purposes during the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
More than 100 vehicles have been donated to Ukraine under the ULEZ programme since it was authorised on March 15, and almost half of them have been sent to the Eastern European country. BUAID also reported that a further 13 are currently en route.
A spokesperson for the organisation said: “We remain enormously grateful for the support given to us by the Mayors of London and Kyiv, and by our many partners, supporters and donors. Vehicles that would have gone to scrap are saving lives in Ukraine, and we know that every one of them is valued and valuable.
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“It is great to see people showing the Dunkirk spirit that Churchill talked about in World War Two, making transport available to those under threat from a ruthless enemy.” The ULEZ zone was extended by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to the whole of the capital in August last year, making it the largest pollution charging area in the world.
Anyone travelling in the zone with a vehicle that does not meet the minimum emission standards must pay a daily fee of £12.50. However, a £210 million scheme run by TfL allows residents, small businesses, sole traders and charities to scrap non-compliant cars to claim grants.
For a scrapped vehicle to be sent to Ukraine as part of the programme, it must serve a function such as assisting with medical aid or evacuating people from dangerous areas. TfL’s head of transport strategy and planning Lucy Hayward-Speight added: “The scrappage scheme has provided support for people to make the green transition alongside the London-wide ULEZ being introduced.
“As well as helping to clean up the capital’s toxic air, Londoners are also demonstrating their concern for others by choosing to provide vital aid for those in the most unimaginable circumstances in Ukraine. We would encourage anyone eligible to donate their vehicle if they can.”
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