Lorry packed with high-quality aid leaves Castletownbere for Ukraine

West Cork-based Ukrainian Viktor Frolov earned enormous support from the rest of the local community for the aid mission to the country of his birth 

Jason Quirke, Ivalo Linder, John Walsh, Carol Murphy, Paul O'Shea, Victor Frolov, Andrei Frolov, Halyna Andreychuk, and Paddy O'Sullivan with the lorryload of humanitarian aid which participated in the Castletownbere St Patrick's Day Parade and is now heading to Ukraine. Picture: Anne Marie Cronin

From the edges of Western Europe, a convoy has begun its journey to provide aid and comfort to those on the opposite side of the continent.

When Castletownbere-based mechanic Viktor Frolov saw the horror unfolding in his native Ukraine, the former soldier's first instinct was to return home to fight against Russian invaders in order to liberate his people.