Survive
the battle.
Defend
the country.
Protect
the world.
In the fall/winter of 2022, we raised $86K to purchase an armored ambulance for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The ambulance arrived in Ukraine from the UK in February 2023 and was handed over to the Kharkiv Regional Military Hospital on March 3rd. Thanks to friends all over the world whose generous support made this possible!
An ambulance for wounded warriors of Ukraine
The key goal of modern military medicine is preserving the lives of wounded soldiers. In the West, prompt bleeding control, helicopter evacuation, and en route care save the lives of most battlefield casualties. In Ukraine, the military often relies on civilian vans and pickups to evacuate its wounded. These vehicles, not equipped for emergency care, are vulnerable to the fire of invading barbarians who disregard the Red Cross emblem.
To protect the lives of wounded Ukrainian soldiers and medics who take care of them, we raised $86K to buy an armored ambulance. The vehicle, a Pinzgauer Vector 718 6x6, is one of the most capable all-terrain vehicles ever made. It is a perfect fit for the needs of our military. Your support is helping our soldiers and medics survive and return to the battle.
Project timeline
We kicked off the project on August 25, 2022, when one of our volunteers, Vadim Monastirsky, rode off for a thousand mile long bike ride across Ukraine, to raise awareness of the project. Over the next two months, we raised the first half of the funds, mostly from Ukrainians – both those who remained in the countries and those who moved abroad to escape the war. Musicians held concerts, artists auctioned off their works, corporations donated from the balance sheets, there were lotteries, silent actions, teach-ins and an hour long concert on the Island of Spitsbergen, the world’s northernmost permanently inhabited community. There were daily “buy me a coffee” donations, payday contributions, there were even people who donated every time an air raid alarm went off.
By November, we established a sister non-profit in the US and launched the second stage of the fundraiser. This was our first organized effort in the West, and we are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Westerners, many but no means all of them Americans. Most of our supporters had no personal connection to Ukraine – they were motivated by human dignity, by love of freedom and by contempt for the evil. Support came from successful entrepreneurs, university professors, IT engineers, military veterans, Fortune 500 executives, scientists, non-profit leaders, Wall Street investors, and from a twelve year old New Yorker named Mila. (Thank you Mila!). By Thanksgiving, the second half of the fundraiser was complete.
It then took three interminable months to obtain permits and transport licenses, but at the end of February, the ambulance arrived in Ukraine. On March 3rd, we turned it over to Slava Kurinnoi, Chief Medical Officer of the regional military hospital, and two days later, the ambulance was in service.
To the extent conditions on the ground permit, we will try to stay in touch with our ambulance and update you on its work.
