Before leaving Vancouver Island for Ukraine for their fourth humanitarian aid trip, Bruce Brown and Bob Beckett were hopeful they might witness history during their time in the war torn country: the end of the war with Russia.

But when U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance publicly clashed with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Feb. 28, the pair adjusted their expectations. Instead, they chose to focus on the mission at hand: delivering much-needed aid to five western Ukrainian municipalities.

With money raised by communities across Greater Victoria and beyond, Langford group Vancouver Island Supports Ukraine (VISU) was able to support a number of projects, including the provision of a school bus for a small rural community, used laptops for hospitals and municipalities, diesel generators for schools and bomb shelters and medical supplies for two hospitals.

香蕉视频直播淭his is not just humanitarian work now,香蕉视频直播� says Beckett, VISU team leader and former Langford fire chief. 香蕉视频直播淭hese are close friendships that we've developed.香蕉视频直播�

Surprisingly, when the Vancouver Island Supports Ukraine (VISU) group arrived in Ukraine early March, they found, unlike the rest of the world, not everyone was talking about Trump.

香蕉视频直播淥ccasionally someone would ask us about it 香蕉视频直播� they were clearly disappointed, disheartened, angry," said retired RCMP staff sergeant Brown. "But they're still busy fighting for their lives, so they're not sort of super focused on it.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭he people are extremely weary,香蕉视频直播� adds Beckett.

The country香蕉视频直播檚 weariness truly hit home for the team when paying their respects to fallen soldiers.

During one visit to a cemetery in Kivertsi, they met a Ukrainian woman who visits the grave of her son 香蕉视频直播� her only child 香蕉视频直播� every day to talk to him. With the help of their interpreter, Beckett and Brown asked the woman if they could lay flowers on her son香蕉视频直播檚 grave to honour him.

香蕉视频直播淭here wasn't a dry eye in the place,香蕉视频直播� said Brown. 香蕉视频直播淲e sat and I put an arm around her 香蕉视频直播� while we can't really talk, it's that sort of language that she understood, that we felt bad 香蕉视频直播� that was quite an emotional experience.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t was really tough,香蕉视频直播� adds Beckett. 香蕉视频直播淚t was extremely emotional for everybody, including the mayor and council members that were with us.香蕉视频直播�

The increase in the number of graves and tributes to fallen soldiers since their last visit to Ukraine in 2023 was another grim reminder of the impact of war.

香蕉视频直播淎ll the mayors talked about how they're running out of space in their cenotaph squares for tributes,香蕉视频直播� said Beckett. "[Emotionally] this trip kicked the shit out of me."

The group香蕉视频直播檚 time in Ukraine was put to good use by the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital, who invited them to join a meeting with the city香蕉视频直播檚 governor and health minister.

It was a meeting to discuss funding for the hospital香蕉视频直播檚 breast milk bank for premature babies. While VISU had helped fund the purchase of equipment, they lacked funds to renovate space in their building for the service.

香蕉视频直播淎bout an hour after the meeting, there was a press release that the governor had met with a delegation from Canada and that they were authorizing the funds to go ahead with the renovations,香蕉视频直播� said Beckett.

香蕉视频直播淪o when people ask why we don香蕉视频直播檛 just send money instead of making the journey there 香蕉视频直播� it does make a big difference to be there actually face-to-face,香蕉视频直播� said Brown.

As the war in Ukraine continues, so does VISU's work, as the trip uncovered new projects in need of support. 

The Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital needs help to raise funds to build a new facility to support youngsters impacted by the war, while an existing mental health facility for children is in need of new recreational equipment for their patients.

香蕉视频直播淲e said everywhere we went that we will continue to support them in whatever way we can, we will stand with them,香蕉视频直播� said Beckett.

香蕉视频直播淭hey need it more now than ever because of what's happening in the States 香蕉视频直播� I think the trip cemented our belief that we can't abandon them, they've been abandoned once already,香蕉视频直播� Brown adds.

To find out more about the work of Vancouver Island Supports Ukraine and to donate, visit the website: .