this Frenchman brought medicine to Ukraine, where “it goes too quickly” in hospitals

He spent 24 hours driving on the roads and made the trip in three days. “I’m starting to approach Siberia, it’s zero degrees”, jokes Lucien D’Agostino in voice messages throughout his journey. The Girondin left La Réole to help the Ukrainians. Moved by their situation, he took to the road at the end of March with his utility vehicle to bring help, including medicine.

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In sometimes daunting weather conditions, Lucien crossed the border in early April and unloaded his van. The humanitarian aid then arrived in kyiv, at a Georgian restaurant which today serves as a logistics base. “Hello, this is Lucien D’Agostino”launches the French on the phone to Dimitri Bassilaïa, the owner. “I’m very happy with what you’re doing”replies the Ukrainian.

Dmitri Bassilaïa is a former rugby third line, who notably played in Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales) and Edinburgh (Scotland). He therefore moved very quickly from professional rugby to humanitarian aid. “It’s not just me. It’s the whole country that is in this case”he assures.

“It’s one for all and all for one. It’s my war too.”

Dimitri Bassilaïa

at franceinfo

The drugs collected by Dimitri are distributed among six or seven hospitals. “They need medicine for pain and fever, hygiene products for women, medicine and food for babies.lists the former rugby player. We try to renew [le stock] every day because it goes away too quickly.”

The priority for hospitals is insulin to treat diabetics. However, this drug is difficult to transport because it must remain cool. Lucien D’Agostino therefore promises to find a solution to respect the cold chain during his next trip to Ukraine. “It will be with great pleasure that we will see each other again”he throws Dmitri Bassilaya. The answer is immediate: “Mthank you very much, Slava Ukrainia and go Blues.”