Fire Aid aid convoy to Ukraine - December 2025
Following Drivex Director Steve Cocks' participation in Operation Zephyr 2024 delivering a convoy of emergency vehicles to The Gambia in 2024, Steve was selected to take part in another aid convoy, this time supporting Fire Aid in delivering fire trucks to Ukraine.
Here is Steve's story....
On Monday 17 November 2025 a request was sent out though Operation Zephyr group chat, asking for volunteers to take part in an aid convoy delivering fire trucks to Ukraine. I immediately replied YES!
On 20 November I received a phone call to say that I had been selected, along with two of my fellow volunteers from Operation Zephyr , Parky and Rob.
Unlike That previous expedition, where there was over 18 months to prepare, this time there were just three weeks as departure day was scheduled for 8 December. Various checks and briefings later and departure day arrived.
Monday 8 December
An early start from home (Isle of Wight) as I was due to rendezvous with my designated fire truck in Newcastle. First Fast Cat of the morning to Portsmouth Harbour and train to London Waterloo saw me arrive in the capital around 8am. Tube to Kings Cross where breakfast was taken, followed by the 09.30 LNER Azuma to Newcastle. Arrival on time at Newcastle around midday, and I stayed on the station to wait for Parky who arrived just after 1pm. We shared a cab to the port with our fellow driver, Ant, and arrived at the port about 2pm. There we met more team members and our designated fire truck, one of two 2004 MAN trucks originally of Scottish origin, our particular version being a manual and very tidy!
After some time getting to know each other, the documentation for the trip and our vehicles, we made our way into the port, ready for embarkation on to the overnight sailing to Amsterdam. Customs was relatively straightforward and once settled on board we all shared a good dinner and spent the evening getting to know each other better. And so to bed in my cabin.
Tuesday 9 December
An early breakfast on board and we sailed into a grey, damp Holland. As the designated driver for the trip, I drove the first stint as we headed across Holland towards the border with Germany. Our destination for the day was a fire station on the outskirts of Berlin where we would rendezvous with the third fire truck that had crossed to France via Calais. The day was showery and cold with some bright spells.
A journey of 417 miles was shared into four stints and we arrived at Freiwillige Feuenwehr Staaken to a welcoming party of local fire fighters and children. We also met with the third fire truck in our convoy. A barbecue dinner and a great evening hearing tales from the local crew telling tales of life in Berlin before the wall came down and what it was like at the time of reunification.
Wednesday 10 December
A good night sleep on my camp bed in one of the dormitories and this was followed by a hearty breakfast. Another damp and cold morning greeted us as we set off, Parky taking first stint as we headed out of the city. Our destination was the Polish Fire Service training centre in Lublin, a journey of some 490 miles.
Another cold day, some bright spells and showers and all drivers taking lengthy stints behind the wheel. First impression was how flat the terrain was, mile after mile of easy motorway and dual carriageway. Good progress was made and arrival was made on a dark, rainy evening.
The Polish Fire Service had arranged our accomodation in the dormitory, so no camp bed required this time. Another good evening of chat and story telling, this time with pizza delivered to the door!
Thursday 11 December
Another bleak and cold morning. We got on the road early, planning a breakfast stop en route. Our ultimate destination was a