Europe Regional Director Colleen Denny and Europe Regional Program Manager Matt Dimmick just returned from Ukraine and Poland. They met with over 100 US and Ukrainian partners, experts, and advisors, including US Special Forces and their Ukrainian counterparts, to check in on our programs and see the impact of your support firsthand.
Spirit of America has helped Ukraine defend its freedom against Russian aggression since 2014. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, we have delivered over 1,000 tons in nonlethal assistance to Ukrainians on the front lines.
Here are the latest updates from Ukraine:
It’s tough on the frontlines, but Ukrainians are resilient
Conditions on the frontlines in Ukraine are hard and only getting harder. Ukrainians are dealing with ammunition and equipment shortages and mounting casualties. They’re also dealing with hard questions about whether the West will continue providing the support and funding that they need to win this war.
Despite this, Ukrainians have some recent successes to point to. They swept the Russian Navy from the Western Black Sea, and grain shipments from ports around Odessa are almost fully restored to near pre-war levels. Ukrainian infrastructure is also holding up under constant bombardment. In fact, Ukraine is producing more natural gas this year than it can use, and will likely be in a position to export electricity to neighboring countries again this year.
And there’s still real fire in the Ukrainian spirit. Our team saw it with every Ukrainian we talked to. They’re not blind to the challenges, but Ukrainians will fight as hard as they can, with as much as they have on hand, for as long as they can. They are just as committed to victory as they have ever been.
Spirit of America continues to meet the urgent needs of elite Ukrainian units
Colleen and Matt met with a US Special Forces team in Poland that is training Ukrainian Special Operations teams, particularly in drone tactics and medical and casualty care. Our US partners told us that the Ukrainians they’re training are the most professional, the most competent, and the most motivated soldiers they’ve ever worked with. Even after their long days together are over, the Ukrainian soldiers spend their free time studying tactics, reviewing techniques, and practicing exercises – they often have to be reminded to go to bed.
We’ve found elite teams like these can have outsized impact on the battlefield. They’re given among the most operationally significant missions from the highest levels of the Ukrainian military command. Spirit of America continues to support special military units like these with vehicles, surveillance drones, secure communications gear, medical equipment, and thermal mitigating gear to help them stay safe and undetected on the frontlines. Below are a few defenders from one unit with two Spirit of America-provided drones.
Continued US support is essential to winning the war
We’re now 722 days into the full-scale invasion. Can Ukraine still win? Yes, but they need more ammunition. They need more air defense equipment. They need more vehicles and anti-armor weapons. They need every ounce of support that the West can offer.
US aid is absolutely critical to replenishing Ukrainian equipment and helping Ukraine survive. A loss of US support would make it very hard for Ukraine to achieve victory in the long term.
It’s up to all of us to do our part
We rightly celebrate the Greatest Generation. They were great because so many did their part to protect freedom and democracy. By doing their part, since World War II we’ve enjoyed a prosperity, freedom, and security that’s unprecedented in human history.
Imagine what the world would be like if we had lost World War II. Imagine what would happen now if we hand Putin a victory. We would live with the consequences for generations.
It’s up to all of us to make things better, to live up to our ideals. Government can’t do it alone. None of us can do it alone. But if each of us does our part, united we can.
Here’s how you can do your part:
- Call your representative in Congress. Tell them why it’s important to you that they support Ukraine.
- Spread the word to your friends and family. Encourage them to get involved and make their voices heard.
- Support Spirit of America’s efforts in Ukraine by making a gift.
Thank you for helping us defend freedom and save lives in Ukraine.
