When Port Macquarie based Ukraine-born Australian doctor Andriy Boyko watched on as horrific images of a war-torn Ukraine poured in, he felt compelled to help.

"Seeing the images from Ukraine is very confronting," he said.

"Whenever you see war footage it's horrible and emotive, but it's not the same as seeing streets you are so familiar with being attacked. It's quite surreal."

Dr Bokyo grew up in Kyiv before emigrating to New Zealand with his family at the age of 11, later moving to Australia where he has now settled in Port Macquarie on the NSW Mid North Coast.

He still has many friends and relatives in Ukraine who have been forced from their homes by the war.

"Before COVID struck, I used to go back about every 18 months to visit friends and family … I have about 30 friends and family spread out through Ukraine. They have all been affected in different ways," he said.

"[My] family in Kyiv have all been displaced and they've all moved west … they’ve packed up and left their whole lives, taking only what they can pack in a car.

"I had a cousin in eastern Ukraine who was caught in Kharkiv, which has been a major target.

"She spent two to three weeks in a bomb shelter before she was able to get out … we were quite worried about her."

Delivering supplies to those in need:

Feeling driven to do something to support those in his birth country, Dr Boyko embarked on a crowd-fundraising mission in late February.

He is now about travel to the Ukrainian border to deliver essential medical and humanitarian supplies to hospitals and aid organisations.

"I have fundraised approximately $100,000 so far," he said.

"I did not expect to raise that much … I think there's a sense of solidarity behind what's happening in Ukraine and it is really good to see how many people have come out to support me."

A first supply shipment went out about four weeks ago with predominantly medical equipment, aimed at managing trauma. 

Dr Boyko will now travel to border nations including Poland, Hungary and Slovakia to ensure delivery of the next shipment, which will include supplies such as food, nappies and medical equipment.

"We reached out to trauma hospitals for assistance with surgical equipment they are desperately short of [and] food and sanitary products, which is something the Ukrainian displaced people and refugees have been quite short of as well," he said.

Dr Boyko said he had drawn on his personal contacts in Ukraine to establish what kind of aid was most needed, then set up a supply chain.

"I will pick up the medical equipment and medications that we have procured in Europe and deliver them to my team in Ukraine," he said.

"In Ukraine we have about 12 vehicles and we have recently been recognised by the Ukrainian government which allows us access to restricted areas and also access to fuel to both deliver aid and also extract people," Dr Boyko said.

The trip means spending a lot of time away from his own young family.

"It's a big decision because I have a family here in Australia," he said.

"I have a two-year-old daughter and we have a second one on the way, but I needed to do something to help Ukrainians caught in the crisis.

Global Medical Foundation Australia donated medical equipment and provided logistical support, while the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations assisted with free freight for the first shipment.

Newcastle Knights and pro surfer Matt Banting offer support:

Dr Bokyo moved to Australia after finishing high school to study medicine at the University of Newcastle.

He is a sports medicine registrar based in Port Macquarie and also works as a medical officer for rugby league club, the Newcastle Knights.

"The Knights have been really good. They have released me from my duties for two weeks and have been really supportive," Dr Boyko said.

"They have donated a jersey that's been signed by the players and we are in the process of auctioning that off."

A signed surfboard has been donated by Matt Banting, a Port Macquarie-based professional surfer, which will also be auctioned.

"The support has been incredible," Dr Boyko said.

Video By | Jemma Pepper

Story By | Emma Siossian