How do we support Ukraine?
Slava Ukraini provides assistance for the armed forces of Ukraine in arranging medical activities in the frontline as well as skills, knowledge and tools to deal with war damage.
Today we focus to frontline medicine.
The activities of Slava Ukraini depend entirely on donations. Up to 10% of the donations are used for general expenses of the organization (salaries, office expenses etc.).
In its activities, Slava Ukraini relies on the code of ethics of non-governmental organizations and has joined with the good practice of collecting donations.
From the 1st of October 2022, MTÜ Slava Ukraini is included in the list of organizations with income tax benefits.
Our activities are transparent. Since 2023, Slava Ukraini publishes the overview of received donations and incurred expenses. We update the table once a month.
What do we rase money for?
In collaboration with PULSE, an organization we’ve been working with previously, we want to improve the blood transfusion capabilities in front-line stabilization points. Fast evacuation and a blood transfusion as soon as possible after blood loss increases the survival rates of fighters in the time horizon of both 24 hours as well as 30 days.
Why do we contribute to this cause?
Bleeding is one of the main preventable causes of death on the battlefield. Slava Ukraini has addressed this issue with several projects. For example, we’ve offered battlefield medicine training, so that soldiers could stop the bleeding efficiently. We’ve bought and rebuilt ATV-s and guerilla ambulances and delivered them to medics and their units all over the front-line, so that they could evacuate wounded as quickly as possible. It is easier to give more thorough first aid at the safer place.
As of now, not many Ukrainian units are able to manage blood transfusions near front-line, because of missing skills and equipment. This is why the wounded will get much needed blood only when arriving at a hospital - just too late according to the modern medical practices. Then again, the prerequisites for front-line blood transfusions have been met: most of the brigades have a medic, or a medical unit at their disposal.
What to we do to improve the situation?
For administering blood transmission, the front-line medics need training, equipment for transporting the blood (for it to be sufficiently cooled) as well as equipment for transfusing the blood (and warming the blood before that). PULSE has already started preparations for the project. PULSE has finalized training the medical trainers who can pass the skills on to the front-line medics. In order to continue we very much would need your help!
How much funds do we need to collect?
We would like to support PULSE with the quality equipment that is needed for practice. We also plant to support up to six units with the equipment that is needed to administer blood transmissions at the front-line.
The total cost for the project is EUR 213 844,40. This sum includes costs for both training equipment as well as the appliances for six units.
Why six units?
We plan to start with six units to pilot the project in cooperation with PULSE. That would provide us with enough experience to analyze and streamline the process in different front-line units, and develop a standardized procedure for blood transmissions.
How can I help?
Please consider donating for the cause. Account: EE927700771008965285, reference: “veri”.
We buy and rebuild vans as guerilla ambulances. Those are used by Ukrainian military units to evacuate wounded soldiers from the front-line. Guerilla ambulances are built for navigating difficult terrain. The landscape may in some places be too rough for the van. It can also happen that there’s no place to take cover, or there’s a minefield on the track. In this case, we send units ATV-s with carriers to save the wounded with more flexibility and speed.
How much does a van cost?
The estimated cost per vehicle is up to EUR 12 200. This includes the car, its transport to Ukraine, maintenance repairs, registration of the car and supplying four new tyres and two spare tyres per car.
What work is done on a car?
The most important phase of the project is rebuilding the car as a guerilla ambulance according to the special manual. The work includes removing the interior, installing PVC floor that is easy to clean, installing the basket stretchers to transport the wounded, painting the car, covering the windows, etc. As the guerilla ambulances drive very fast and on difficult roads, then we have committed EUR 800 per car for additional repairs.
For ATV-s we also provide a trailer. If needed, the ATV is painted in military green for better protection. As a rule, ATV-s are transported to the front-line in the guerilla ambulances to avoid additional costs.
Where does the funding come from?
We cover the costs of the project with the funds donated to Slava Ukraini.
Two units have asked us for refrigerated vehicles that can transport the dead bodies of fallen fighters.
One vehicle (including the car, maintenance, stretchers, tires and transport to Ukraine) is EUR 12,111 euros. With the donations already received, we have purchased one refrigerated vehicle, but we are raising money for the second one.
Since May 2023 until December 2023, 8619 soldiers have completed the PULSE training and know how provide life-saving first aid on the battlefield.
Miks on lahingumeditsiiini koolitus oluline?
Lahingumeditsiini koolitusel õpitakse põhilisi elupäästvaid võtteid – kannatanu olukorra hindamine, žguti paigaldamine, hingamisteede vabastamine, esmaabi andmine suurte haavade korral jne. Koolitus hõlmab ka lahinguolukorraga arvestamist: olukorrale ohuhinnangu andmist ja taktikalist tegevust. See vähendab eesliini suremust, suurendab motivatsiooni ja pikemas perspektiivis vähendab taastusravi töökoormust. Hinnatakse, et koolituse läbinud sõdur päästab enda ümber kuni 10 inimese elu.
Kui palju sõdurite koolitamine maksma läks?
Raha koolituste läbiviimiseks koguti 2023. aasta veebruaris heategevussaates “Elagu Eesti! Slava Ukraini” 132 030 eurot. Selle eest planeerisime koolitada 8100 sõdurit. Ühe sõduri koolituse hind on 16.30 eurot. Tegelikult õnnestus meil projekti käigus koolitada ära lausa 8619 sõdurit!
Meie koostööpartner Ukrainas
Ukrainas viis lahingumeditsiini koolitusi läbi organisatsioon PULSE.
In cooperation with MilSpray, a company that grew out of a student company, 24,000 cans of spray-on camouflage paints are sent to the Ukrainian army at the request of the Minister of Defence of Ukraine.
Why spray paint is better?
Since MilSpray colours are in the form of a spray instead of a regular paste, they can be applied quickly and efficiently. The spray is more skin-friendly and easier to wash off than the paste.
The cost of the project
The cost of the project is 54,000 euros and it is covered by funds donated by donors.
In August 2023, Estonian Defence League run an equipment project that was funded by Slava Ukraini. Vision equipment, range finders and drones were provided to the snipers and sharpshooters in two Ukrainian brigades.
Background
From January to March 2023, the instructors of the Northwestern District in Estonian Defence League helped to train some Ukrainian snipers and sharpshooters. At there was a direct contact between the Ukrainian units and the Defence League, it was absolutely clear which additional equipment was needed by the units.
Equipment
In the end of August 2023, the members of Northwestern District of in the Defence League delivered the necessary equipment to the Brigades no 112 and 116 in Ukraine. Purchasing of the appliances was supported by Slava Ukraini. It included vision equipment, range finders and drones. The equipment was taken into use by the same fighters who had been trained by the Defence League earlier in 2023.
Project costs
NGO Slava Ukraini provided the funding for the project from the received donations, in the amount of EUR 98 898,00.
In October 2022, MTÜ Slava Ukraini, in cooperation with Postimees and the IT company Solutional, launched a donation campaign 1000 Heroes In the Snow to purchase winter uniforms for Ukrainian soldiers.
Initially, it was planned to acquire 1,000 sets, but due to the great interest of donors, the goal was to acquire 2,000 winter uniforms. A total of 827,010.90 euros was collected as donations.
The uniforms were ordered from the Dnipro factory with the help of our Ukrainian partners. The cost of one set was approximately 400 euros. A total of 2,300 sets were produced, of which 2,299 have been handed over, and one set is kept as a sample in the warehouse of a former cooperation partner. Winter uniforms were distributed to cooperation units of Slava Ukraini all over the front line (eg, Mykolayiv-Kherson, Donetsk, Bahmut), whereas 463 uniforms were distributed in 2022, the remaining 1,836 forms in early 2023.
The set of a winter uniform consisted of the following parts: a winter jacket, winter pants, fleece, warm underwear, balaclava hat, snow suit and winter hat.
In 2022, MTÜ Slava Ukraini started providing TCCC, ie, tactical combat casualty care training for providing first aid to battle victims with the help of our cooperation partners. It is a specially focused first aid training, which, based on evidence, reduces the death toll on the battlefield and (thanks to correct first aid techniques) reduces the burden of rehabilitation. Soldiers who have completed the TCCC training know how to correctly use the items in the individual first aid kit (IFAK).
In 2022, we worked with three different partners: NGO Koleso in cooperation with S-ARMS OÜ, who conducted four training sessions (for approximately 120 people) and cooperation was also tested with Yaroslava Aidat Mazuri.
From June 2022, Slava Ukraini decided to continue cooperation with the organisation PULSE, which turned out to be the best and most capable cooperation partner.
As a result of the cooperation, PULSE trained 3,635 Ukrainian soldiers in 2022. It is estimated that every soldier who has received the appropriate training can provide life-saving first aid to up to ten fellow soldiers around them. Therefore, nearly 36,350 soldiers have presumably benefited from the training.
Training sessions have been offered all over Ukraine, especially in Eastern and Southern Ukraine and, if necessary, also in the very front line areas. Various different units have taken part in the training: infantry, air force, border guard, navy defenders, land force, territorial defence units, national defence, police, security service, etc. Help and knowledge are still very much needed, and therefore, in cooperation with PULSE, we will continue to train the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2023.
At the beginning of the war, old ambulance vehicles were bought from Estonia and abroad and transported to various Ukrainian military units and local hospitals. The project was led by the Tallinn Old Town Rotary Club and Slava Ukraini helped with the logistics and finding recipients of ambulance vehicles. In this way, 46 fully equipped ambulances were delivered to Ukraine by the 24th of April 2022.
As the war progressed and according to the feedback from the front line, it was realised that a large classic ambulance vehicle is not the best choice to operate near the front line, because it is a good target for the enemy and it is difficult to repair it in case of a hit or wear.
That is why the guerilla ambulance concept was born: an ambulance vehicle that is simple, lightweight, with a few electronic devices, and as reliable as possible. The guerilla ambulance is designed to transport the wounded in poor terrain and can be repaired by anyone having basic knowledge of vehicle repair. Under the guidance of Slava Ukraini, the content of the ambulance vehicles was redesigned based on the actual needs. The concept was developed in cooperation with the front line medics of Ukraine, Silwi Autoehitus and the responsible ambulance technician of the Ambulance Centre of the North Estonia Medical Centre.
Ambulance vehicles have been taken to service by both the military and hospitals.
The completion of ten vehicles was fully supported by Merko Ehitus, later guerilla ambulances were built locally in Ukraine. Voluntary rescuers from Türi have consistently helped with the transportation of the vehicles.
A total of 434,685.16 euros of donor money was spent on the guerilla ambulance project in 2022. While the vehicles were initially rebuilt in Estonia, they were later re-constructed on-site in Ukraine.
The project has been initiated as a joint project of Slava Ukraini, Toompea District of the Estonian Defence League and OÜ Huum. Funds were collected for a mobile sauna complex capable of serving an entire battalion. The sauna has an independent water and electricity supply with a separate support machine. It is possible to set up a recreation tent with a heat blower in front of the sauna, where it would be possible to change clothes. A separate vehicle supports the functions of the sauna, which ensures the water supply for the sauna.
Through MTÜ Slava Ukraini, funds were collected and two saunas were sent to Ukraine. The Defence Forces also contributed to the acquisition of the first sauna, and the sauna was sent to the Karpatska Sich battalion. The second sauna went to the Crimean Tatar battalion at the beginning of 2023. Both battalions are volunteer battalions, and advice on the selection of the battalions was sought from the Estonian Embassy in Kyiv.
From 03.11 to 31.12.2022, 39,755 euros were collected for the sauna project. While the budget for the first sauna project was estimated to be at 37,700 euros, 14,600 euros were actually spent. Savings came primarily from the trucks and laundry containers donated by the Estonian Defence Forces. The money saved was transferred to the budget for the next sauna set. Another sauna was purchased for the remaining amount in 2023.
Today, a new organisation, NGO Saunas for Ukraine, was born from this initiative: saunas4ukraine.org
The Christmas of Hope charity campaign was launched in cooperation with Postimees. The goal was to give 100,000 Ukrainians living on the front line and in the liberated villages of Ukraine an aid package containing essential food, hygiene items, and blankets and pillows. Food donated by Estonians as well as foodstuffs and hygiene items purchased from Ukraine were used to complete the packages. The blankets and pillows were produced in the Dnipro factory, and the aid packages were also packed in Ukraine to support the Ukrainian economy by providing a stable income to the people there.
Contents of the aid package: buckwheat, rice, instant oatmeal, pasta, tomato sauce, long-lasting milk, flour, salt, sugar, sunflower oil, canned meat, canned fish, chocolate, tea, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo-shower gel, household soap, warm blanket and pillows, long-burning candles, matches, flashlight and extra batteries for the flashlight. In addition, woollen socks, gloves, hats and scarves knitted by Estonians were included in the packages in cooperation with the campaign initiated by Reet Linna.
In total, we managed to collect 1,334,139.12 euros in donations for the campaign, for which 18,600 aid packages were purchased for 37,200 people. The aid packages were distributed at the end of 2022 and at the beginning of 2023 to people living in the front line areas (Izjum, Balakliya, Bahmut, Herzon, Hulyaipol, Orhiv, Nikopol, Marganets).
Over the whole year, vehicles moving towards Ukraine were loaded with medical equipment, hygiene products, food, etc, needed by Ukrainians. More specific resources (such as tourniquets) were purchased, but various in-kind donations were also collected. Lists of needed items were posted on Facebook and on the website, and people could bring items to various donation points.
In the early days of the organization, NGO Slava Ukraini organized various aid to Ukraine.
In addition to the above, in 2022, 32 four-wheel-drive vehicles were delivered to various military units of Ukraine, which were primarily intended for transporting various items and soldiers to the front line.
Items and food donated by Estonians or bought for donations were sent to Ukrainian soldiers.
In 2022, the MTÜ Slava Ukraini supported the purchase of equipment for the modular hospital brought to Ukraine by the Estonian state (the total cost of which is approximately 8 million euros) with 120,000 euros (including the purchase of breathing apparatus).
Shadows of the past
In the early spring of 2023, a controversy emerged in Estonia and Ukraine concerning the utilisation of funds by certain partners in Ukraine. These activities and the donations used for these activities are under criminal investigation in Estonia and Ukraine.
As of the summer of 2023, various changes have taken place in the organisation: a new manager commenced their role and operational procedures were restructured in order to align their actions with the ethical guidelines of non-governmental organisations. The roles of the general assembly, the council and the board have been clearly agreed, so that the boundaries of responsibility are clear, and the separation of powers and the control of financial resources are guaranteed. Slava Ukraini no longer works with the partners in Ukraine who are subject to criminal proceedings.