On 8 March, Oslo Mayor Anne Lindboe did not mark International Women’s Day at home. She drove to Ukraine to hand over cars to soldiers who need them to survive.
Volunteers, not the state, supply an estimated 95% of the cars Ukraine’s army depends on for resupply, evacuation, and troop movement.
Euromaidan Press reported last November that Russian drones are now destroying Ukrainian military vehicles faster than volunteers can replace them—and that volunteers, not the state, supply an estimated 95% of the cars Ukraine’s army depends on for resupply, evacuation, and troop movement, according to Politico.
A convoy, a mayor, and 2,300 kilometers
According to the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV), Lindboe traveled to Kyiv to personally hand over 21 vehicles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, joining around 40 Norwegian volunteer drivers on behalf of Ukrainian Freedom Convoys. Norwegian Ambassador Lars Ragnar Hansen and Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleksandr Mishchenko also attended the ceremony.
“I want you to know that in Oslo, we have not forgotten about you. We hope these cars will bring you hope.”
“Thank you for everything you sacrifice, for your relentless fight for our common freedom,” Lindboe told Ukrainian soldiers.
“I want you to know that in Oslo, we have not forgotten about you. We hope these cars will bring you hope. We’ve already driven them over 2,300 kilometers, so I hope they will serve you well. We are very proud of you.”
The cars were bought using donations from private individuals and Norwegian companies, according to ICUV. Ukrainian Freedom Convoys has now delivered 450 vehicles to Ukrainian defenders since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, and plans to deliver around 200 more in 2026.
Why the cars matter
The front stretches for hundreds of kilometers. Armored vehicles are scarce, and the ones that exist are destroyed just as quickly as unarmored ones—often faster, because they get closer to the fighting.
The same drone pressure that destroys vehicles also forces Ukrainian units to disperse, meaning more cars are needed to move the same number of troops. The pipeline is thinning precisely when demand is rising.
“I have never seen so many people waiting for spring”
Speaking at the handover, Hansen pointed to the season ahead.
“Everyone who lives in Kyiv, everyone who lives in Ukraine, can tell you that this winter was harsh,” he said. “But I have never seen so many people who are so eagerly waiting for spring. Ukrainians have a new plan, a strong team, and are ready to move forward.”
Norway’s support for Ukraine extends well beyond civilian convoys. Oslo has opened Camp Jomsborg, one of the largest Norwegian military camps abroad, in the forests of southeastern Poland to train Ukrainian soldiers for front-line conditions.
Ukrainian Freedom Convoys plans 200 more deliveries before the year is out.
