Student vet from Hampshire delivers food and bedding to refugees fleeing Ukraine

Donations are being delivered to the border of Slovakia and Ukraine Credit: Millie Hopkins

A student vet living in Slovakia has raised hundreds of pounds to buy essential items for people fleeing war-torn Ukraine.

Millie Hopkins, from Havant, is studying for a veterinary degree in the city of Kosice, about 100 miles from the border with Ukraine.

The 29-year-old has raised money from friends, filled suitcases with items and taken them to a refugee collection point.

She has so far delivered food, toiletries, lanterns, batteries, plates and cutlery and even sleeping bags and is heading there again today.

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Bags of donations have been dropped off at the border of Ukraine and Slovakia Credit: Millie Hopkins

A student at the University of Kosice since 2018, Millie has previously worked at the Harbour Veterinary Group in Portsmouth.

She told ITV Meridian: "Since the weekend thousands of people have crossed the border from Ukraine into Slovakia so a lot of charities have set up on the border and they are handing out soup, coffees, and first aid.

"The charities are asking for food, water, first aid, bandages, clothing and nappies, so we have been going round the different shops and charity shops getting everything together and taking them to the checkpoints where they have been distributing them."

"I've done two runs myself and we are hoping to procure some vehicles so we can take a few more bits across and maybe bring people back across the border as well."

WATCH: Millie spoke to ITV Meridian reporter Chloe Oliver

She added: "It is overwhelming knowing that these people that are in such need at the moment are the same as the people we are living around, they are no different from the rest of us, they are ordinary people having to fight for their lives."

Millie has collected, among other items:

  • Lanterns, candles, matches

  • Baby food, baby formula, nappies

  • Soap, deodorant, baby wipes

  • Blankets, duvet, pillows, towels

  • Soup, dried foods, coffee, tea

  • Socks, hats, children's clothes

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