
‘Putin will have to try harder than that in order to kill me'
He travelled to Buckingham Palace for a garden party last month, where he met the future King and Queen.
The 'once in a lifetime' experience was shared with Ukrainian refugee Tatiana Atananenko.
He said: 'We met with Prince William and Princess Kate, along with Sophie and Edward, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
'They were all there. It was an amazing day. You don't go back twice for that.
'It was a nice honour for me, but it's not really my scene, because I don't like publicity.
'It was more for Tatiana. That was the biggest honour bestowed on her.
'She said to me: 'I never, ever thought, being a refugee, I would be in a position with you to go and see the royal family, going to Buckingham Palace and walking around the gardens, having tea and eating the same food as the King eats'.
'She can't quite get her head around it yet, that she has been to Buckingham Palace.
'I got to meet Princess Kate, she looked absolutely amazing following her cancer treatment.
'You never would have thought she was ill, she looked a million dollars.
'She was so polite and so nice. She had time to listen and talk, not just shake your hand and disappear.
'She was really down to earth. She was a lovely woman.
'Prince William said to me: 'Peter, we are all very proud of you. We know everything about you because we have been told about you'.'
Mr Jennings began organising humanitarian trips to Ukraine in 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion.
He is grateful for the generosity of local people who support his work, especially small businesses in Derry.
On his last trip he visited an orphanage and children's hospital near the front line, where he delivered more than 750 Christmas presents to young people affected by the war.
Earlier in the year, while travelling to the contested region of Kherson in the east of the country, he was blasted out of his lorry during a Russian strike which claimed the lives of three soldiers he had become friendly with — Ivan Kovalenk, Aleksander Shevchenko and Maxim Kravchenko.
Despite being left with permanent injuries to his eyes and a limp, Mr Jennings is committed to delivering on a promise he gave the men.
He said: 'I made a vow that day to the soldiers: 'Don't think you have seen the end of me, because I will be back'.
'To the three soldiers who were lost and their families, I owe it to them.'
Mr Jennings also keeps in touch with President Zelensky, who has become the public face of his country's defiance against the Russian invasion.
He explained: 'I have a lot of time for Zelensky, I actually have his mobile number.
'He sends me a text every once in a while, asking if I am okay, and how my injuries are.
'I think I am the only one in the UK to have the Golden Star.
'They are very rare. It's the biggest civilian award they can give you.
'I am proud of that one. It means more to me than the other medals, it's very special.
'I have got 10 medals — one from Kyiv, a volunteer one, Patriot of Ukraine, one for Bucha, then there's the star, and one for Kharkiv.
'I got one for being injured as well, not that I need a reminder.'
While suffering as a result of his injuries, he insisted he will not be stopped from delivering much-needed aid to Ukraine.
Mr Jennings intends to continue defying of his doctor's orders — and the Russian leader who started the war.
'I am OK at the moment. Ukraine is more important to me,' he said.
'Putin is going to have to try harder than that to kill me.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


ITV News
9 hours ago
- ITV News
Trump arrives in Scotland for his first UK visit since re-election
US President Donald Trump has arrived in Scotland at the start of a five day visit - his first to the UK since his re-election. His presence will result in a significant operation from Police Scotland and thousands of officers, who are expected to deal with mass protests around his golf courses and major Scottish cities. Trade unions, disability rights activists, climate justice campaigners, Palestinian and Ukrainian solidarity groups and American diaspora organisations are among those holding demonstrations in protest of the visit. Trump will visit both of the golf clubs he owns in the country – Turnberry in South Ayrshire and Menie, near Aberdeen, in the coming days. During his time in Scotland, he will also meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Von der Leyen announced her trip on X, saying: 'Following a good call with @POTUS, we have agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong.' Trump indicated that he and Starmer could 'approve' the US-UK trade deal when they meet on Monday. Speaking to reporters before he began his travel on Friday, the president said: 'We're going to be talking about the trade deal that we made and maybe even approve it.' Before boarding the presidential plane Air Force One to fly to Scotland, he told journalists he has a 'lot of love' for Scotland.


JAMnews
12 hours ago
- JAMnews
"What Russia is doing is systematic colonization." Opinion from Abkhazia
Russia is taking control of Abkhazia A new stage of Russia–Abkhazia cooperation is, in essence, a controlled integration of Abkhazia into the Russian Federation. This is how the Abkhaz media outlet Aiashara interprets several recent decisions made by the Kremlin regarding Abkhazian citizens. In particular, it refers to the simplification of Russian citizenship procedures and the ban on Abkhaz driving licenses in Russia, accompanied by the issuing of Russian licenses within Abkhazia. Aiashara interprets these Kremlin initiatives as follows: What is the idea behind it? Controlled integration = a strategy of 'absorption without annexation' Russia is applying a tactic of asymmetric absorption. It does not declare official unification but inserts itself into key elements of sovereignty – documents, borders, rights, and governance. At the same time: Russia complicates regular border crossings, But simplifies the switch to a new identity (Russian citizenship). The goal is to make the population 'voluntarily' choose Russian jurisdiction as the only convenient option. Want to travel, work, live? Then give up independence. Russia offers convenience – in exchange for loyalty. This is infrastructural occupation without tanks. Driver's licenses: not about cars, but about legitimacy By banning Abkhaz driving licenses in its jurisdiction, Russia delegitimizes Abkhazia's very statehood. Moscow is effectively sending a clear message: 'Your documents are fake. Only the ones we issue are real.' And by issuing its own licenses on Abkhaz territory, Russia: Extends its jurisdiction directly onto foreign soil; Builds a parallel state; Turns Abkhazia into a regional proxy zone. This is soft colonization – no flag, but full control over daily life. Russia's real but hidden goals: 1. Demographic absorption The more Russian citizens live in the region, the easier it becomes to control – even through military means 'to protect Russian nationals.' 2. Erosion of Abkhaz sovereignty Abkhazia becomes a de facto federal protectorate without formal annexation. 3. Blocking alternative influences By monopolizing legitimacy and documentation channels, Russia eliminates competition. How to resist? 1. Expose the logic of soft occupation People need to be explaimed: Russian citizenship means a gradual loss of national independence; Russian documents are control tools, not gifts; Simplified procedures are traps, not benefits; Russia is not 'helping' Abkhazians — that's a myth. 2. Build alternative legitimacy infrastructure Even without global recognition, Abkhazia must build internal trust. For that, the following are needed: Digital IDs; Third-country agreements; Trusted platforms independent of Russia. No infrastructure – no sovereignty, even if there's a flag. 3. Develop domestic economy and services as an alternative to Russian oversight As long as Russia provides more, people will choose it. But once internal systems start feeding, healing, and transporting people, the incentive to rely on foreign jurisdiction will weaken. Russian agents in Abkhazia | Discussion of Inal Khashig and Astamur Tania 'Georgia must learn to say 'yes'' – view from Abkhazia Conclusion What Russia is doing is systematic colonization through documents. Not guns, but passports. Not annexation, but 'assistance.' Not orders, but 'convenient choices.' Russia is playing the long game: Undermining internal legitimacy; Building direct influence through citizenship; Imposing its legal grid. Resistance is possible – but only by abandoning illusions and starting to play the same game: the game of systems, not slogans. Toponyms, terminology, views and opinions expressed by the author are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of JAMnews or any employees thereof. JAMnews reserves the right to delete comments it considers to be offensive, inflammatory, threatening or otherwise unacceptable. News in Abkhazia


JAMnews
12 hours ago
- JAMnews
British Embassy: "Georgian Dream has distanced itself from Euro-Atlantic cooperation"
UK regrets Georgian Dream's actions The British Embassy in Georgia has published a statement on sanctions against 21 Russian military intelligence agents and four Russian organizations 'in response to Russia's hostile actions.' The statement also mentions a cyberattack carried out by Russian military intelligence against Georgia in 2019. The Embassy reaffirms its strong support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and expresses regret over the ruling Georgian Dream party's drift away from Euro-Atlantic cooperation. The text of the statement: 'In concert with the EU, NATO and a large coalition of states, the UK has called out Russia's irresponsible, destructive and destabilising hybrid activity targeting the UK, Ukraine, NATO allies and partners across the world. In response to Russia's persistent hostile activity, the UK has sanctioned 4 entities and 21 operatives of Russian military intelligence for irresponsible and destructive hybrid activity targeting the UK, Ukraine, and the wider world. This includes one of the units of the GRU – Russian military intelligence agency – which, in 2022, conducted online reconnaissance to help target missile strikes against Mariupol – including the strike that destroyed the Mariupol Theatre where hundreds of civilians, including children, were murdered. We have also sanctioned three leaders of Russia's 'Africa Initiative', a Foreign Information Manipulation and Influence (FIMI) outlet established and funded by Russia, employing Russian intelligence officers to conduct information operations in West Africa. Africa Initiative attempted to undermine lifesaving global health initiatives in the region by pushing baseless conspiracy theories to further the Kremlin's political agenda. The activity exposed is another demonstration of how hybrid activity – including through cyberspace and disinformation – are a tool in Russia's ongoing campaign to destabilise Europe, and in Russia's brutal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. In October 2019, Georgia was also the subject of a damaging cyber-attack by the Russian military intelligence. In February 2020, the UK Government and its partners exposed these cyber-attacks against Georgia as part of Russia's long-running campaign of hostile and destabilising activity. We have been clear that the GRU conducted these cyber-attacks in an attempt to undermine Georgia's sovereignty, to sow discord and disrupt the lives of ordinary Georgian people. The UK remains unwavering in its support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The UK and Georgia worked together to build cyber resilience and to publicly attribute that attack, unfortunately Georgian Dream has moved away from Euro-Atlantic co-operation, but the threat from Russia remains, including in the cyber sphere.' News in Georgia