Cost of protecting a Ukrainian soldier
Since February 2022, Spirit of America has delivered lifesaving assistance into the hands of Ukrainian troops and civilian volunteers defending freedom on the front lines. When Russia launched its full-scale war on Ukraine, ordinary citizens, became soldiers overnight – many of them had nothing more than knee pads for protection. We have outfitted Ukrainian defenders with protective gear to help shield them from Russian fire as they bravely resist oppression.
The total cost of outfitting one soldier with this lifesaving equipment is $1,343. Here is a cost breakdown for each item:
- Ballistic helmet – $353
- Bulletproof vest – $848
- Fully stocked individual first aid kit – $142
All of the equipment we source is top-of-the-line, military-grade gear. Our team in Virginia inserts two bulletproof plates into each individual kevlar vest before shipment to Ukraine. All of the first aid kits are fully stocked with items such as tourniquets, gauze, bandages, trauma shears, rubber gloves, surgical tape, nasal airway tubes, and more.
But that’s not all — we have also sent ready-to-eat meals (MRE’s), communications equipment, and other non-lethal tactical gear to the front lines. Each shipment of aid is loaded onto a Boeing 777 that costs $600,000 to charter. The planes are packed to the brim with supplies, leaving no wasted space.
With your help, we have already sent four planeloads of assistance to Ukrainian soldiers and civilian volunteers, comprised of 9,296 Level IV bulletproof vests, 9,298 ballistic helmets, 20,720 first aid kits (IFAKs), 33,000 meals ready-to-eat (MREs), and more. Join us in taking Ukraine’s side and defending freedom against Russian oppression.
