Edinburgh cabbie’s 2,000-mile taxi donation to Ukraine war effort now a vital anti-drone vehicle saving lives
- Perry Richardson
- Oct 15
- 2 min read
An Edinburgh taxi driver who delivered her decommissioned cab to Ukraine last year is now seeing it play a vital role on the front line.
Linda McHale, 62, drove more than 2,000 miles from Scotland to Chernivtsi in western Ukraine in October 2024. Her mission was to hand over her Peugeot E7 taxi, which could no longer operate in the city centre due to low emission regulations.
Now, a year on, the vehicle has been upgraded with anti-drone technology and is being used to transport injured soldiers away from active combat zones. The cab has also been used over the last year to move elderly and infirm civilians to hospitals and clinics, making it a multi-purpose lifeline in the region.
McHale explained: “In Ukraine, it can be a minibus or an ambulance, anything they want. The idea is to take it from here to there and have it accessible for the local people.”
She made the journey with Ukrainian mechanic Pavel Corcitiuc, a close friend of her late partner. Her decision was shaped by personal connections and years of friendship with Ukrainians, adding a deeper meaning to her commitment.
“My dearly departed partner died two years ago, and one of his best friends is from Ukraine. It’s to do with an attachment with the people over the years.”
Linda, who is a long-standing member of the Association of Hackney Carriage Drivers of the City of Edinburgh, credits the wider city’s cab community for continued support and charitable work. She said the donation was in line with the values shown regularly by drivers across Edinburgh.
The cab’s conversion for war use is being overseen by Ukrainian volunteers and aid workers on the ground. Its adaptation has allowed the vehicle to safely operate closer to conflict areas.
McHale expressed concern about the wider conflict and the ongoing human cost: “There are so many things that shouldn’t be happening.”
