Ep017:

The Road of Life, and Death

A van stuck near the Russian border. Two elderly evacuees. Headlights cutting through the dark. That moment became a turning point for Tenby Powell — a former soldier and business leader now running one of the last foreign-flagged humanitarian teams on Ukraine’s front line. He explains what aid work looks like when drones dominate, mines shift daily, and even humanitarian markings can’t guarantee safety. KiwiKare’s focus is precision impact: frontline ambulance transfers, targeted hospital resupply, and Heat for Health, which turns old water cylinders into stoves for families without power.

Tenby also breaks down the brutal logistics behind each mission — when to abort, why “pull” beats “push” aid, and why some donations must cover armoured glass and electronic warfare equipment alongside medicine and fuel. It’s a candid look at ethics, survival, and the Ukrainian partners who make this work possible. If you care about frontline humanitarian action, you’ll find hard truths and real hope here.