Bendy buses from Luton Airport used in Ukraine in the battle against Russia

It’s not something you would expect military to be driving around in — but they’re being used, in disguise, in the battle against Vladimir Putin’s war machine.

Bendy buses from Luton Airport in the UK are being used in Ukraine in the battle against Vladimir Putin’s war machine. Picture: The Go Ahead Group

Bendy buses from Luton Airport in the UK are being used in Ukraine in the battle against Vladimir Putin’s war machine.

Three of the 54ft single-deckers — once used to ferry holiday-makers to the nearby railway station — carry battle-weary soldiers from the front line for rest and recuperation, The Sun reports.

They still have their purple livery in a bid to stop them being targeted by Russian invaders.

The latest bus arrived on Friday after a 2414km journey.

Three 54ft single-deckers that were once used to ferry holiday-makers from Luton Airport in the UK to the nearby railway station are now being used by Ukrainian soldiers. Picture: The Go Ahead Group

It was donated by the Go-Ahead bus group as a new monorail at Luton meant it was no longer needed.

The trips have been arranged by Wiltshire-based Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership, which has transferred 1,300 tonnes of aid to eastern Ukraine since the start of the conflict.

Chair Mike Bowden, 63, said: “Our role is to bring together the very generous public spirit in this country and get what we can out to Ukraine as quickly as possible.

The latest vehicle was donated by the Go-Ahead bus group as a new monorail at Luton meant it was no longer needed. Picture: The Go Ahead Group

The buses will not be repainted as this keeps them looking like public service buses from the air – and Russia is targeting hospitals and emergency workers. Picture: The Go Ahead Group

“We drove the buses from Swindon to Dover and over to Calais, where we hand them over to our Ukrainian colleagues. They then take them home to Ukraine.

“One poor chap looked like he’d never driven a bus before, and appeared quite horrified at the thought of driving a bendy bus all that way. But it made it.”

Mr Bowden, a retired corporate lawyer, added: “Traditionally you would paint such buses white with red crosses on the roof.

“But we have been specially asked not to repaint them so they look as close to public service buses as possible from the air and don’t stand out.

“This is because Russian forces are deliberately targeting hospitals and emergency workers.”

He went on: “Our enthusiasm, determination and commitment are our greatest strength — and we will continue our work for as long as it is needed.”

Mr Bodwden hopes to raise more than £100,000 ($A195,000) to convert and send up to 40 second-hand buses no longer needed in the UK.

The group has already provided another single-decker which is working as a mobile field hospital.

A spokesman for the Go-Ahead Group said: “Rather than scrap the buses, we decided to put them to good use.”

This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission