Russia’s war on Ukraine: Spirit of America updates
Spirit of America is working closely with our US and Ukrainian military partners to meet the urgent needs of Ukrainian forces defending their freedom and democracy. Thanks to your support, we have delivered more than $55 million of assistance to date, including on four Boeing 777 flights, to Ukraine. The equipment we have provided includes:
- 18,594 ballistic helmets and bulletproof vests
- 21,095 first aid kits and advanced trauma kits
- 21,620 tourniquets
- 33,000 ready-to-eat meals
- Satellite phones, radios, and other communications gear
- 314 surveillance drones
- 31 generators
- Binoculars, rangefinders, and other optical and sighting equipment
- 1,750 thermal imagers
- Winter clothing, boots, and other apparel
- Rucksacks and other tactical gear
- 12 mobile combat shower units
- Pickup trucks, vans, 50-passenger buses, and funding for the repair of military trucks
- Funding for a training course for captains in the Territorial Defense Force (TDF)
- Support for over 1,000 refugees in Poland, including families of Ukrainian soldiers
This support is saving lives. As just one example, a senior US Special Operations Command leader recently told us, “Spirit of America provided the lion’s share of nonlethal equipment received by Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, which served as a lifeline to keep them alive and functioning during the earlier period of the war.”
Our Europe Regional Director, Colleen Denny, and Regional Program Manager, Matt Dimmick, frequently travel to the region. Watch their most recent briefing from Ukraine, with Lt. General (Retired) Ben Hodges and CEO Jim Hake.
The video below shows a behind-the-scenes look of our assistance in action as Colleen and Matt travel to Ukraine to meet with local partner Ruslan and to personally deliver body armor, ballistic helmets, and first aid supplies to Ukrainian soldiers.
Vehicles continue to be urgently needed. After months of heavy fighting, TDF units have an extreme need for vehicles to move troops, injured soldiers, and carry equipment. Spirit of America has purchased a multitude of vehicles to help transport supplies and troops to the front lines and evacuate wounded soldiers, including nine 50-passenger buses thanks to funding support from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. Your support has also allowed us to help the TDF rehabilitate and repair existing Ukrainian military vehicles.
In addition to individual first aid kits, evacuation stretchers, unmarked ambulances, and other medical equipment, surveillance drones and night vision goggles have been an integral part of the mission-critical gear identified by Ukrainian military personnel.
For months, Ukrainian fighters have been on the front lines, in cold muddy trenches. With the weather transition from winter to spring, conditions have only become worse. With your support, combat showers are providing necessary hygiene and laundry services on the front lines for up to 50-100 soldiers a day, moving to where they’re needed most. Additionally, these units are used in vulnerable villages and communities, where civilians who haven’t had access to electricity or running water will also be able to use them.
More than 120,000 men and women serve in Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces, but only 3% had any military experience or training before 2022. Your support provided critical startup funding to the TDF’s Captain’s Career Course where officers and leaders received combat preparedness training.
As of December 2023, the Captain’s Career Course has graduated 480 captains. With each Captain commanding a company of 100 soldiers, Spirit of America’s initial investment has impacted an estimated 48,000 soldiers. Due to its success in reducing casualties on the front lines, the Captain’s Career Course has been hailed by President Zelenskyy and General Zaluzhny as catalytic.
The above photo is from our Ukrainian partners. This Spirit of America-provided helmet saved the life of a Ukrainian soldier fighting in Velika Novosilka, a southern town near Mariupol situated between Zaporizhia and Donetsk. Your donations are saving lives and helping Ukraine win.
