Arcada delivers ambulance to Ukraine

The Arcada for Ukraine campaign, which started in March, achieved its most important goal in October: to deliver an ambulance to Ukraine. After driving 1,500 kilometres from Helsinki, the largest convoy of vehicles to date arrived in Lviv in early October.

Arcada's ambulance was one of 13 vehicles handed over to Ukrainian soldiers.

‘Showing support for Ukraine is already making a difference. The ambulance and the visit were our way of doing that. The Ukrainians especially appreciated that we dared to come and took the time to be there with them,’ says Emilia Maukku, a student in the Online Media programme and one of the people from Arcada who participated in the trip.

In addition to Maukku, Jan Svensson, a social work student, Mia Wägar, Manager, Strategic outreach and external funding, and Jan Nåls, Principal Lecturer in Media Culture, also took part in the trip. Furthermore, Arcada's ambulance was driven by Andreas Aalto, a first-aid worker and alumnus of Arcada.

Once in Lviv, the participants got to hang out with Ukrainian soldiers and volunteers from Initiative E+, Karavanen till Ukraina rf's partner organisation in Ukraine. The soldiers showed them how drone technology has changed the whole nature of war.

‘The soldiers explained how it is currently most dangerous when travelling to and from the frontline, as the drones can reach behind the lines. It is precisely because of this that the vehicles delivered by Caravan to Ukraine are so vital,’ says Svensson.

The participants also visited Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, where they were welcomed by both the rector and students. During the day, four students acted as interpreters and facilitated communication.

‘Hearing people my own age talk about how they continue to study during war touched me as a student myself. When lectures are held in bomb shelters, rent has doubled and many prefer to study remotely to avoid attacks, you realise how easy it is to take your own everyday life for granted,’ says Maukku.

The reality on the frontline

The day after the keys were handed over to the soldiers, the vehicles were driven to Kiev early in the morning to be inspected. After that, the vehicles were driven closer to the front in the eastern part of the country.

There is an urgent need for ambulances and four-wheel drive vehicles in Ukraine. As the roads at the front are destroyed, it often takes a long time for soldiers to receive help at a hospital. Soldiers wounded at the front must first be transported by four-wheel drive vehicles to an ambulance, where the most urgent injuries are treated. The ambulance then takes them to a field hospital where the soldiers are stabilised before being transferred to a larger hospital. 

‘Ambulances are irreplaceable, and since 12 October, the ambulance delivered by Arcada has hopefully saved lives in Ukraine,’ says Svensson.

Ambulances are irreplaceable, and since 12 October, the ambulance delivered by Arcada has hopefully saved lives in Ukraine.

Due to the long and often difficult journey from the frontline, more people than necessarily have to undergo amputations.

That is why the participants also visited the Superhumans rehabilitation centre, where some of the wounded soldiers receive prosthetics, rehabilitation and support in rebuilding their lives.

The visit made a strong impression on the group, who saw how soldiers who had lost legs or arms were relearning everyday skills, such as cooking and moving around on their own again.

A campaign across educational boundaries

The Arcada for Ukraine campaign started in March 2025, and by the time of departure, the university of applied sciences had raised around €20,000.

During the spring, students and staff organised various events, fundraisers and communication campaigns to raise money for the ambulance.

‘Our goal of getting an ambulance to Ukraine was achieved. Behind this are not only those of us who participated in the trip, but every person who donated, participated in events, baked cakes and in some way contributed their time or money,’ says Svensson.

A big thank you goes out to everyone, both organisations and individuals, who contributed to the campaign – your commitment will save lives.

Read more: 

Arcada is the first University of Applied Sciences in Finland to join the Caravan to Ukraine