Newcastle Talk On Ukraine’s Numbing War

Clearing mines with the Blackleys’ old Mitsubishi…

eeing his four years of helping Ukraine battle against Russia’s invasion as far more rewarding than his 40 years as an accountant, Newcastle’s Sandy Blackley is keen to share his experiences.

Which is why he and his wife, Maggie, have organised another talk in the Newcastle Parish Centre on Saturday, May 2nd at 7pm.

“When the war started,” explains Sandy, “Maggie and I looked on Ukraine as a buffer between Russia and the rest of Europe. They were fighting ‘our’ war for us, and any help we could give in support should be given…”

In the Blackley’s case, that included not only delivering humanitarian aid but also donating their 2005 Mitsibishi L200 to 24-year-old Yura Menelek, whose unenviable job is clearing mines across Ukraine.

“I have kept in touch with Yura and his mother,” continues Sandy. “He has been injured from shrapnel, ending up in hospital in Odessa, but is now back on duty.

“These vehicles have a short life in Ukraine but his mother confirmed to me that Yura and the jeep are both still going strong…”

And last July, with generous backing from the Irish public, three more 4x4s were sent to the frontline in Ukraine.

With the war in Gaza and Iran having pushed Ukraine’s further and further off the front pages in recent times, the recent fourth anniversary of Putin’s invasion has been marked with a concerted push by European leaders, buoyed somewhat by the ousting this week of Putin and Trump’s ally, Viktor Orbán, as Prime Minister of Hungary.  

Dealing largely with the humanitarian convoy to Ukraine, Sandy Blackleys’ latest talk will take place in the Newcastle Parish Centre on Saturday, May 2nd at 7pm.

A free event, there will be a donations basket for a Ukraine support group, and to ensure a seat, you can RSVP on email here or by WhatsApp here.