Tomasz Oryński
@orynski.eu
Freelance journalist, blogger, podcaster, translator, and... trucker, who left the UK after 17 years due to Brexit. I live in Helsinki now.
I write, among others, for Britske Listy and the Bylines network. I run Lewackie Pitolenie podcast in Polish.
I write, among others, for Britske Listy and the Bylines network. I run Lewackie Pitolenie podcast in Polish.
Pinned
FUNDRAISER: THE FINAL UPDATE.
I am back home. I am going to write a big article and produce a podcast when I tell you everything in more details. But as many of you donated, I thought it will only be fair to let you know what happened to your money as soon as possible. So without further ado:
I am back home. I am going to write a big article and produce a podcast when I tell you everything in more details. But as many of you donated, I thought it will only be fair to let you know what happened to your money as soon as possible. So without further ado:
Thread continues here: bsky.app/profile/oryn...
My dad was lending me some money in PLN, so instead of physically exchanging and transfering fundraised euros to Poland only to then exchange and transfer my own PLN to Finland, I did a “switcheroo”, which allowed us to save over 10 euros on exchange and transfer cost.
a man in a leather jacket is standing in front of a building with a sign that says opening .
ALT: a man in a leather jacket is standing in front of a building with a sign that says opening .
media.tenor.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Thread continues here: bsky.app/profile/oryn...
Cost of purchase of powerbanks: 7554 PLN (netto). A friend offered to help us to purchase them, she took care of VAT and only “charged” us 7500 PLN.
As I had 263.69 donated in PLN, I only needed to €1708,90 to meet the remaining balance of 7236.01 PLN.
As I had 263.69 donated in PLN, I only needed to €1708,90 to meet the remaining balance of 7236.01 PLN.
November 25, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Cost of purchase of powerbanks: 7554 PLN (netto). A friend offered to help us to purchase them, she took care of VAT and only “charged” us 7500 PLN.
As I had 263.69 donated in PLN, I only needed to €1708,90 to meet the remaining balance of 7236.01 PLN.
As I had 263.69 donated in PLN, I only needed to €1708,90 to meet the remaining balance of 7236.01 PLN.
- and last but not least to everyone who honoured me with their trust and donated money to this cause.
THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!
THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
- and last but not least to everyone who honoured me with their trust and donated money to this cause.
THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!
THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!
- to the editorial teams of @bylines.scot and to Jan Čulík of Britske Listy, who agreed to publish my fundraiser.
- to everyone else who provided assistance, advice or shared the fundraiser links to help spread the message
- to everyone else who provided assistance, advice or shared the fundraiser links to help spread the message
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
- to the editorial teams of @bylines.scot and to Jan Čulík of Britske Listy, who agreed to publish my fundraiser.
- to everyone else who provided assistance, advice or shared the fundraiser links to help spread the message
- to everyone else who provided assistance, advice or shared the fundraiser links to help spread the message
- one of my followers on Mastodon, who purchased a train ticket for me when my card payments weren't going through and then donated the money to Ukraine (and to that other one who also offered to do the same, but was just a bit slower).
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
- one of my followers on Mastodon, who purchased a train ticket for me when my card payments weren't going through and then donated the money to Ukraine (and to that other one who also offered to do the same, but was just a bit slower).
- the Ukrainian soldier Stas, who spent some time of his precious holiday time to babysit me in Lviv and his wife Ira who has not been to angry at him for that (at least I hope so). They also put me up in a nice hotel, and even found a couple of hours to show me Lviv.
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
- the Ukrainian soldier Stas, who spent some time of his precious holiday time to babysit me in Lviv and his wife Ira who has not been to angry at him for that (at least I hope so). They also put me up in a nice hotel, and even found a couple of hours to show me Lviv.
- my other friend, who wants to remain anonymous, who sourced powerbanks cheaply through her company's contacts and took care of some of the costs
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
- my other friend, who wants to remain anonymous, who sourced powerbanks cheaply through her company's contacts and took care of some of the costs
- Jakub Sobiecki, my long time online friend from Eastern Poland who agreed to take delivery of powerbanks and put me up for the night in his home. (if you ever need an English-Polish translator in Świdnik, he is your man!)
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
- Jakub Sobiecki, my long time online friend from Eastern Poland who agreed to take delivery of powerbanks and put me up for the night in his home. (if you ever need an English-Polish translator in Świdnik, he is your man!)
- r/Finland community and Kasper Kannosto of www.yourfinnishfriends.org who gave me advice how to do car-related paperwork properly
Your Finnish Friends ry
Your Finnish Friends ry tukee Ukrainassa taistelevia suomalaisvapaaehtoisia.
www.yourfinnishfriends.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
- r/Finland community and Kasper Kannosto of www.yourfinnishfriends.org who gave me advice how to do car-related paperwork properly
I would like to thank everyone who helped this happen:
- Julius Mättö and Vadym Vechirka who got my car running after it was stationary for three months (also Atro and Zosia who came with jump leads from the other side of Helsinki to help me start it).
- Julius Mättö and Vadym Vechirka who got my car running after it was stationary for three months (also Atro and Zosia who came with jump leads from the other side of Helsinki to help me start it).
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
I would like to thank everyone who helped this happen:
- Julius Mättö and Vadym Vechirka who got my car running after it was stationary for three months (also Atro and Zosia who came with jump leads from the other side of Helsinki to help me start it).
- Julius Mättö and Vadym Vechirka who got my car running after it was stationary for three months (also Atro and Zosia who came with jump leads from the other side of Helsinki to help me start it).
In Lviv Stas and Ira have put me up in a nice hotel near their place, and Stas paid for my train ticket – and I invited him to a dinner in exchange. I also had some more food on the way, had to buy screenwash and whatever, so there is definitely no change left from this lot :)
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
In Lviv Stas and Ira have put me up in a nice hotel near their place, and Stas paid for my train ticket – and I invited him to a dinner in exchange. I also had some more food on the way, had to buy screenwash and whatever, so there is definitely no change left from this lot :)
Of those 198 euros, 25 euros were spent on a set of new spark plugs for my car, 44 euros on the ferry ticket, 112.23 on petrol to get to Ukraine, and then 27 for accomodation in Przemyśl, when the train from Lviv arrived too late and I had to stay overnight.
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Of those 198 euros, 25 euros were spent on a set of new spark plugs for my car, 44 euros on the ferry ticket, 112.23 on petrol to get to Ukraine, and then 27 for accomodation in Przemyśl, when the train from Lviv arrived too late and I had to stay overnight.
As those were separate from the main fundraiser, I did not been keeping receipts and stuff, so I can only offer you a loose break down:
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
As those were separate from the main fundraiser, I did not been keeping receipts and stuff, so I can only offer you a loose break down:
As promised, none of those money were used on travel purposes or anything related to my car.
However, some of you donated also to my personal ko-fi page to the total sum of 98 euro. I also got 100 euro donation to that purpose from my mom :-)
However, some of you donated also to my personal ko-fi page to the total sum of 98 euro. I also got 100 euro donation to that purpose from my mom :-)
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
As promised, none of those money were used on travel purposes or anything related to my car.
However, some of you donated also to my personal ko-fi page to the total sum of 98 euro. I also got 100 euro donation to that purpose from my mom :-)
However, some of you donated also to my personal ko-fi page to the total sum of 98 euro. I also got 100 euro donation to that purpose from my mom :-)
They are providing humanitarian help to Ukraine, I once took some stuff for them when I drove an empty van Helsinki to Poland empty and I was impressed how well organized they are logistically. They also helped me to get my car running when it developed some problems just before leaving for Lviv.
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
They are providing humanitarian help to Ukraine, I once took some stuff for them when I drove an empty van Helsinki to Poland empty and I was impressed how well organized they are logistically. They also helped me to get my car running when it developed some problems just before leaving for Lviv.
As you might have noticed, thanks to all the discounts we got, we were left with 116.72 euro change, which I donated to AutaUkrainaa, a charity run by the Ukrainian Association in Finland, Ukrainalaisten yhdistys Suomessa ry.
I donated for helping Ukrainian hospitals, including field hospitals.
I donated for helping Ukrainian hospitals, including field hospitals.
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
As you might have noticed, thanks to all the discounts we got, we were left with 116.72 euro change, which I donated to AutaUkrainaa, a charity run by the Ukrainian Association in Finland, Ukrainalaisten yhdistys Suomessa ry.
I donated for helping Ukrainian hospitals, including field hospitals.
I donated for helping Ukrainian hospitals, including field hospitals.
As for the car, there is still some snag with the paperwork, so it waits in Lviv. After the paperwork will be sorted, it will be serviced and also sent where it needs to be.
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
As for the car, there is still some snag with the paperwork, so it waits in Lviv. After the paperwork will be sorted, it will be serviced and also sent where it needs to be.
After I physically handed over the car, we drove to the postal warehouse in order to send the powerbanks away, so they get where they are needed ASAP. As I write those words, they are already working on the frontline.
I am happy to report Stas was doing great for first time in a RHD car :-)
I am happy to report Stas was doing great for first time in a RHD car :-)
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
After I physically handed over the car, we drove to the postal warehouse in order to send the powerbanks away, so they get where they are needed ASAP. As I write those words, they are already working on the frontline.
I am happy to report Stas was doing great for first time in a RHD car :-)
I am happy to report Stas was doing great for first time in a RHD car :-)
I drove to Lviv where I met with Stas, one of the soldiers from the unit that got the donations.
I transfered the car and powerbanks to him formally through an Ukrainian NGO:
I transfered the car and powerbanks to him formally through an Ukrainian NGO:
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
I drove to Lviv where I met with Stas, one of the soldiers from the unit that got the donations.
I transfered the car and powerbanks to him formally through an Ukrainian NGO:
I transfered the car and powerbanks to him formally through an Ukrainian NGO:
My dad was lending me some money in PLN, so instead of physically exchanging and transfering fundraised euros to Poland only to then exchange and transfer my own PLN to Finland, I did a “switcheroo”, which allowed us to save over 10 euros on exchange and transfer cost.
a man in a leather jacket is standing in front of a building with a sign that says opening .
ALT: a man in a leather jacket is standing in front of a building with a sign that says opening .
media.tenor.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
My dad was lending me some money in PLN, so instead of physically exchanging and transfering fundraised euros to Poland only to then exchange and transfer my own PLN to Finland, I did a “switcheroo”, which allowed us to save over 10 euros on exchange and transfer cost.
The total amount of money raised was €1825.62.
Additionally I was given 263.99 Polish currency.
Additionally I was given 263.99 Polish currency.
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
The total amount of money raised was €1825.62.
Additionally I was given 263.99 Polish currency.
Additionally I was given 263.99 Polish currency.
FUNDRAISER: THE FINAL UPDATE.
I am back home. I am going to write a big article and produce a podcast when I tell you everything in more details. But as many of you donated, I thought it will only be fair to let you know what happened to your money as soon as possible. So without further ado:
I am back home. I am going to write a big article and produce a podcast when I tell you everything in more details. But as many of you donated, I thought it will only be fair to let you know what happened to your money as soon as possible. So without further ado:
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
FUNDRAISER: THE FINAL UPDATE.
I am back home. I am going to write a big article and produce a podcast when I tell you everything in more details. But as many of you donated, I thought it will only be fair to let you know what happened to your money as soon as possible. So without further ado:
I am back home. I am going to write a big article and produce a podcast when I tell you everything in more details. But as many of you donated, I thought it will only be fair to let you know what happened to your money as soon as possible. So without further ado:
of course, but if you explaining why this is stupid idea, you might want to mention this too.
November 25, 2025 at 3:01 PM
of course, but if you explaining why this is stupid idea, you might want to mention this too.
yes, but this complicates things for finns.
Say, you regauge the tracks. Your cars have new wheel sets, but are still as wide as they used to be.
So now when European standard car is coming, there is a gap betwen the platform and it. And you still can't send your old stock abroad...
Say, you regauge the tracks. Your cars have new wheel sets, but are still as wide as they used to be.
So now when European standard car is coming, there is a gap betwen the platform and it. And you still can't send your old stock abroad...
November 25, 2025 at 2:57 PM
yes, but this complicates things for finns.
Say, you regauge the tracks. Your cars have new wheel sets, but are still as wide as they used to be.
So now when European standard car is coming, there is a gap betwen the platform and it. And you still can't send your old stock abroad...
Say, you regauge the tracks. Your cars have new wheel sets, but are still as wide as they used to be.
So now when European standard car is coming, there is a gap betwen the platform and it. And you still can't send your old stock abroad...
I think your article misses one crucial point here: loading gauge.
You might move the rails in Finland. Still, there is no chance for Finnish trains to get to Poland, not to mention Britain, as the cars themselves are wider and taller.
You might move the rails in Finland. Still, there is no chance for Finnish trains to get to Poland, not to mention Britain, as the cars themselves are wider and taller.
November 25, 2025 at 2:44 PM
I think your article misses one crucial point here: loading gauge.
You might move the rails in Finland. Still, there is no chance for Finnish trains to get to Poland, not to mention Britain, as the cars themselves are wider and taller.
You might move the rails in Finland. Still, there is no chance for Finnish trains to get to Poland, not to mention Britain, as the cars themselves are wider and taller.