MID AND WEST WALES FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE has helped deliver a major convoy of firefighting vehicles and equipment to Ukraine, four years on from the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.

The latest convoy, the ninth of its kind, left the UK on Monday, 29 June and reached the Polish border with Ukraine on Thursday, 2 July, where vehicles and equipment were handed over to Ukrainian partners.

The operation was sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and FIRE AID, and delivered through a national partnership involving National Resilience, the National Fire Chiefs Council, UK International Search and Rescue, and fire and rescue services from across England and Wales.

The convoy delivered 21 fire vehicles, including 17 fire engines, as well as more than 2,300 pieces of essential firefighting equipment. The donations will help replace critical resources lost during the war.

Since 2022, the UK fire and rescue community has donated 169 vehicles and more than 220,000 pieces of equipment to Ukraine.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service was represented on the convoy by Watch Manager Robert Kershaw.

He said: “I am incredibly proud of our Service’s commitment to supporting the charity and helping get vital aid to Ukraine.

“This mission holds a very special place in my heart, as my family hosted a Ukrainian family for a year, who we now consider our own.

“Knowing the impact of this conflict first-hand makes me even more grateful to work alongside colleagues who are dedicated to helping Ukrainian emergency services protect lives.”

Previous donations from UK fire and rescue services are already making a significant difference on the ground. Vehicles delivered through earlier convoys have responded to more than 6,000 incidents, while more than 2,500 Ukrainian firefighters have been equipped with fully operational PPE and breathing apparatus.

Ukrainian fire and rescue services continue to face severe pressure. According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, 481 fire stations have been destroyed, with a further 106 in occupied territories. A total of 1,792 fire vehicles have also been lost.

Since the full-scale invasion began, 122 firefighters have been killed and 629 injured, with three still in captivity. The figures were correct as of 22 June 2026.

Despite these losses, Ukrainian firefighters continue to work on the frontline, saving lives, protecting infrastructure and responding to emergencies while under constant threat.

Around 80 volunteers from across the UK fire and rescue community took part in the convoy, giving their time to prepare, drive and deliver the appliances and equipment.

Fire and rescue services involved included Derbyshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hereford and Worcester, Kent, Lancashire, London, Merseyside, Mid and West Wales, North Wales, North Yorkshire, South Wales, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Surrey, West Midlands and West Yorkshire.

National Fire Chiefs Council Chair Phil Garrigan said: “The UK Fire and Rescue community remains unwavering in its support for colleagues in Ukraine.

“Four years on from the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian firefighters continue to operate in the most challenging and dangerous conditions imaginable.

“This ninth convoy demonstrates the enduring commitment of UK fire and rescue services to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Ukrainian counterparts.

“The equipment being donated will help replace vital resources lost during the conflict and ensure firefighters can continue their life-saving work.

“This is about firefighters supporting firefighters. It is a powerful example of friendship that transcends borders.

“It is crucial we recognise the challenges our colleagues face and that we continue to play our part.”

FIRE AID Ukraine Lead Oksana Romanukha said: “We are once again seeing the extraordinary solidarity of communities right across the UK with Ukraine.

“These vehicles and equipment are lifelines, helping to save lives, protect firefighters and strengthen the resilience of communities under constant threat.

“We are deeply grateful to everyone across the fire and rescue community, and all those involved, who have made this collective effort possible.”

Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy Samantha Dixon said: “Ukraine has faced unimaginable suffering, and we remain unwavering in our support.

“This convoy will deliver the critical equipment needed to help Ukraine’s Fire Service save lives, respond to attacks and protect their communities.

“I’m proud of the brave volunteers from across our Fire and Rescue Service, as well as all the organisations which have played a role in mobilising these vital assets, making sure support reaches those who need it most.”

Former coxswain praised for four decades of dedication, major rescues and service to the Pembrokeshire coast

ST DAVIDS RNLI has paid tribute to Dai John after an extraordinary 40 years of dedicated service to the lifeboat station and the wider community.

Dai joined the crew in 1986, continuing a proud family tradition. His father served as coxswain at St Davids, while his grandfather was also a member of the crew.

Over the past four decades, Dai has been involved in countless rescues and emergency launches, serving as coxswain for 16 years and helping to save lives in some of the most challenging conditions off the Pembrokeshire coast.

Among the many incidents remembered by the station are the 14-hour rescue of the trawler Western Belle and her five crew during a night of rough seas and gale-force winds, and the dramatic rescue of three fishermen from the burning Yves Marie Amil near South Bishop Lighthouse in 2004.

Dai also recalls his very first launch, which was to a crashed jet while serving aboard the old wooden lifeboat Ruby and Arthur Reed. His service also included major incidents such as the Sea Empress disaster, as well as many other rescues which have left a lasting impression on him and his fellow crew members.

His contribution to St Davids RNLI has extended far beyond emergency call-outs. Dai was coxswain during the construction of the new lifeboat station, welcomed the arrival of the Norah Wortley lifeboat to St Davids, and helped mark the station’s 150th anniversary in 2019.

Reflecting on his 40 years of service, Dai thanked current and former crew members for their friendship, support and dedication. He also extended his thanks to RNLI fundraisers, supporters, neighbouring lifeboat crews and the emergency services he has worked alongside throughout his time with the charity.

Although his time at St Davids RNLI has now come to an end, Dai hopes to continue serving the charity by transferring to Penarth Lifeboat Station as a Launch Authority and shore crew member.

In a statement, St Davids RNLI said: “From everyone at St Davids RNLI, thank you, Dai, for 40 years of selfless service, dedication and friendship. We wish you every success in your next chapter and fair winds for the future.”

A PEMBROKESHIRE smallholding plan involving guinea pigs, rabbits and pigeons being reared for food has been criticised by animal welfare campaigners.

The scheme, at Walnut Grove near Jeffreyston, was approved by Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee last month (Jun 30) as part of a One Planet Development.

The proposal is not for a commercial guinea pig meat farm. The animals would be reared for the applicants’ own household consumption as part of a self-sufficient, low-impact lifestyle.

There is also a cultural divide. In parts of South America, especially Peru, guinea pigs are known as cuy and have been eaten for centuries. They are still served as a traditional dish, particularly in the Andean region around Cusco.

Travel and food accounts from Peru often describe cuy as being served whole, sometimes in a traditional presentation, before being cut up and eaten by hand because of the small bones. The meat is commonly compared to a cross between chicken and rabbit.

That context may explain why the proposal has provoked such a strong reaction in Britain. What many people here see as a family pet is regarded elsewhere as a normal source of food.

Animal Aid has said the idea raises serious questions about animal welfare and what should be considered sustainable living.

In a letter to The Herald, Elizabeth Davenport, Senior Campaign Manager at Animal Aid, said: “I’m sure your readers have already heard about the off-grid couple in Pembrokeshire planning to breed, kill, and eat guinea pigs, rabbits, and pigeons as part of a so-called sustainable living project.

“Aside from the obvious concerns, who will ensure that welfare laws are followed? It’s clear that if this is what sustainability looks like, we have truly lost our way.”

Guinea pigs are widely kept as pets in the UK, which has made this part of the proposal especially controversial.

Animal Aid says the issue is not simply whether guinea pigs are eaten elsewhere, but whether breeding and killing animals should be promoted as part of a sustainable future.

Ms Davenport said: “These One Planet Developments are built on the simple truth that we only have one Earth and must live within its limits. But recognising this should mean respecting our fellow animals, not expanding the menu of those we exploit.

“Too often, individuals get lost amongst the sustainability argument. Guinea pigs, like cows, experience bursts of excitement and hop and skip in the air; pigeons, just like chickens, are devoted parents. We lose so much when we reduce them to the latest sustainability fads and trends.”

The One Planet Development policy is intended to support low-impact rural living, where people meet a significant proportion of their basic needs from the land.

In this case, the applicants’ plans include food production from the land, including fruit, vegetables and other produce, alongside small-scale livestock for personal use.

Animal Aid argues that a genuinely sustainable future should involve reducing reliance on animal farming rather than adding new species to the menu.

Ms Davenport added: “If we are serious about protecting the planet, the evidence is clear: reducing our dependence on all animal farming and embracing a plant-based food system offers far greater sustainability benefits.

“I urge local residents to contact Pembrokeshire County Council. Decisions made in the name of our shared future should be for everyone, including animals.”

Pembrokeshire County Council approved the application subject to conditions.