Ukrainian musician in Netherlands donates 10 vehicles to 3rd Army Corps

Oleh Lysenko, a Ukrainian accordionist who has resided in the Netherlands for more than 25 years, has continued his extensive support for the Ukrainian defence forces by delivering ten vehicles to the 3rd Army Corps. The handover ceremony was held at the main square of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, located at the foot of the Mother Ukraine monument.

The vehicles were provided by the Music for Ukraine foundation, a charitable organization established by Lysenko. The event marked a significant contribution to the military's logistical needs, with the specific allocation directed toward the 3rd Army Corps to support its operational capabilities.

Yevhen Avdieienko, known by the call sign Avdiei, represented the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade in accepting the vehicles. His presence at the ceremony highlighted the direct connection between civilian fundraising efforts in the diaspora and the frontline units receiving the equipment.

Lysenko's involvement in this initiative stems from a long-standing collaboration with the war museum. Yurii Savchuk, the director of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, noted that the partnership began when Lysenko provided musical accompaniment for a joint event with the Dutch National Museum of the Eighty Years' War.

Savchuk observed that despite living abroad, Lysenko maintained strong ties to Ukraine, which impressed him and led to their ongoing cooperation. According to Savchuk, the museum has assisted in the delivery of vehicles to Ukraine for the past year, facilitating the logistics of these donations.

Since February 2022, Lysenko has organized over 400 charity concerts across the Netherlands. These performances have generated more than 3.5 million euros in support for Ukraine. The funds raised have been primarily directed toward purchasing medical vehicles and related equipment for the military.

Over the four-year period since the foundation's inception, Lysenko and his wife Sanne van Vuuren have overseen the delivery of more than 278 vehicles. This fleet includes resuscitation units, evacuation vehicles, and various units of medical equipment.

The foundation's assistance has extended to more than 120 military units, as well as hospitals within Ukraine. Lysenko, a native of Poltava Oblast, originally trained at the Kyiv Conservatory before moving to the Netherlands, where he has built his career as a musician and philanthropist.

The recent delivery of ten vehicles to the 3rd Army Corps represents the latest chapter in Lysenko's sustained effort to support the war effort. His work exemplifies the role of cultural figures in the diaspora in mobilizing resources for national defence.

The event underscored the collaborative nature of the donation process, involving both the charitable foundation and the national museum. Through these coordinated efforts, the foundation continues to provide critical medical and logistical support to Ukrainian forces.