Frequently asked questions about our work in Ukraine

May 26, 2022

What type of aid are you sending to Ukraine?

Spirit of America is providing lifesaving, protective equipment to Ukrainian soldiers and civilian volunteers on the front lines. All of our assistance is nonlethal and consists of items such as ballistic helmets, bulletproof vests, first aid kits, ready-to-eat meals, combat boots, communications gear, and more.

How much aid have you been able to deliver to the front lines?

To date, we have sent four cargo planes loaded with a combined total of 165 tons of lifesaving aid directly to Ukrainian defenders on the front lines.

What can my donation purchase?

Here is a breakdown of exactly what your donation can purchase for a Ukrainian soldier or civilian volunteer:

Ballistic helmet – $353
Bulletproof vest – $848
Individual first aid kit – $142
One month’s supply of ready-to-eat meals – $252.75

Why can't the government provide this aid?

Spirit of America’s assistance compliments what the US Government is providing – we’re responding to the needs that they identify to us. Spirit of America’s flexibility, logistics networks, and established relationships with partners on the ground allow us to act quickly to deliver exactly what is needed at the point of greatest need in response to real-time operations. Our model makes us uniquely ready for this type of crisis.

How are you different than other nonprofits working in the region?

Most assistance organizations are neutral: they exist specifically to provide humanitarian relief to refugees and the victims of war. Spirit of America is not neutral: we take the side of American troops, we take the side of America’s allies, and we take the side of Ukraine. This enables us to directly support Ukrainians who are volunteering to defend their country. Our targeted assistance is delivered directly into the hands of Ukrainians on the front lines with the goal of helping Ukraine win.

Who are you working with in Ukraine?

We are working closely with US military and State Department personnel in neighboring countries, their Ukrainian counterparts, and Ukrainian partners that we established relationships with back in 2015 after Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine.

How many people do you currently have working in Ukraine?

Since the start of the war, we have had 1-4 team members consistently on the ground in Europe to work closely with our local partners.

How much does it cost to provide equipment to one soldier?

The price of equipping one soldier with a ballistic helmet, bulletproof vest, and individual first aid kit is $1,343.

Where are you sourcing the equipment from?

Most of the the equipment that we deliver to Ukrainian defenders is sourced in the United States, and is top-of-the-line, military-grade gear that is used by our own US military.

Do you have control over where your aid is distributed in Ukraine?

Because of the relationships we have built with networks on the ground, we are able to send the aid exactly where it is needed most; our deliveries are based on real-time operations. Once the fight started shifting to the east, we outfitted Ukrainian men and women in the Donbas with bulletproof vests and tactical helmets. Our trusted partners and logistics networks allow us to act swiftly in response to shifts on the battlefield, and deliver exactly what is needed to the most kinetic conflict zones.

As the situation develops, has there been a shift in the type of aid that Spirit of America is sending?

Spirit of America is working closely with our US military and State Department partners to meet the urgent needs of Ukrainians. Since the war began, our top priority has been providing lifesaving assistance and protective gear to Ukrainians on the front lines. This is what our partners in Ukraine tell us is needed most. We have delivered over 65 tons of lifesaving gear and supplies – including medical supplies, helmets, body armor, food, and communications gear – to Ukrainian soldiers and civilian volunteers.

Are you providing assistance to volunteers that are retrieving armor or evacuating civilians?

We have outfitted a number of volunteers with body armor and other lifesaving gear to protect them as they travel through conflict zones to deliver supplies and help with evacuations. A recent example of this is our partnership with the nonprofit Razom. We provided bulletproof vests to their volunteer drivers to keep them safe as they evacuated civilians and transported wounded Ukrainians to medical facilities.

Is Russia undermining your efforts in Ukraine?

No. We have a trusted network on the ground. We’re working with US military and their local partners to make sure that all of our operations are running through secure routes.

Are you supporting other parts of the Ukrainian military, beyond the Territorial Defense Forces?

We are providing lifesaving equipment to both members of Ukraine’s armed forces as well as the civilian volunteers in the Territorial Defense Forces.

Are you or your Ukrainian partners at risk from sharing this information?

Spirit of America does not reveal any mission-critical or sensitive information that could endanger our employees or our local partners. We also work closely with US military public affairs officers to ensure that our messaging does not jeopardize operations on the ground.

Have you supplied equipment to any foreign volunteer battalions in Ukraine?

No, we have not. Every piece of aid that we’ve gotten into Ukraine has been delivered into the hands of a Ukrainian soldier or volunteer civilian. Our operations are based on the assessments from our US military, from the Ukrainian military, as well as other networks on what is needed most urgently and where that aid is needed.

How long is the training for Ukrainian civilians before they head to the front lines?

Civilian volunteers undergo three days of intensive training before heading into combat zones.

What are the dangers for the Balkans and other neighboring countries?

As foreign policy experts have pointed out, this war has implications for the larger global order: If the sanctity of borders is no longer respected, that paves the way for future land grabs and violations of state sovereignty. What will prevent Russia from invading other democracies in Eastern Europe? And what precedent does this set for other regional territorial disputes such as that of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

How can people in Ukraine get in touch with you to get aid?

For security reasons, we cannot specify which units will be receiving assistance or accommodate individual requests at this time. We are working closely with US and Ukrainian partners on the ground to identify exactly what is needed and where.

Are there recordings of Spirit of America's Ukraine briefings that I can share with my networks?

Recordings of all of our briefings are posted on our website as well as on our YouTube channel.

The New York Times article said that you've raised $7.2mm in support of your Ukraine efforts - is that true and where do you get your funding?

Since the New York Times article was released, we have raised an additional $18.8mm to support our efforts in Ukraine – that is a total of $26mm in funding. We are completely privately funded and do not accept any government funding. All of our donations come from private citizens or companies. It is thanks to the generosity of our donors that we are able to purchase this lifesaving equipment to support Ukraine.

What is the best way to give funds in support of the Ukraine effort?

The best way to directly support the Ukraine effort is by donating to our Ukraine fund on our website. 100% of your donation will go directly to help Ukrainians, with no overhead or operating costs deducted.

How do I volunteer to help support Ukraine?

Unfortunately, we are not set up to incorporate volunteers in our international operations. Moreover, it would be disruptive to bring volunteers into the relationships we have with our US military and State Department partners.

The best way to support Ukraine is by donating to our Ukraine fund and spreading the word about our work with your networks.