Dear Editor:
Since the fall of the USSR, Russia has hungered after Ukrainian territories for their rich agriculture and natural resources. In addition, Russia illegally annexed Crimea and the Donetsk and Luhansk eastern Ukrainian oblasts, known as the Donbas.
Ukraine is the only country in the world that’s in open conflict with Russia in defense of its sovereignty and freedom. It stands as a buttress against Russian aggression and it’s well known that if Ukraine were to fall, Europe and the West would be in dire jeopardy.
Our mission is to help men and women who are wounded in this battle, specifically those who have lost a limb in combat.
Members of our Ukrainian American Veterans organization recently toured Ukrainian military hospitals and found a great need for equipment and materials to help in the rehab process. Once a person becomes handicapped through this type of injury his life is altered forever. People who lose a limb cannot recover on their own. They need therapy and prosthetics to regain their humanity.
The Ukrainian American Veterans are collecting donations for this charitable undertaking. We have established a humanitarian fund to help these injured patients. All of the money collected will be used for acquiring and shipping rehabilitation equipment to Ukraine. We have volunteers to perform office functions, and no funds will be spent on administration. Donations will be applied towards the acquisition and shipping of this equipment to Ukraine. We are a not-for-profit veterans’ organization and all donations are tax-deductible.
Please help us save these combat heroes. Their sacrifices are worthy of your contribution.
For charitable donations we ask readers to pick one of the following methods.
• A Go-Fund-Me page has been created. You can go to the following website to contribute: www.gofundme.com/wounded-ukrainian-warriors-rehab.
• We have a humanitarian fund account at Selfreliance Federal Credit Union. To contribute please refer to: UAV Humanitarian Fund, Account No. 168319.10. The address is: Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, 2332 West Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622; telephone, 773-328-7500.
• If you prefer, check donations can be mailed to: UAV Humanitarian Fund, c/o Bohdan Dudycz, Publications/PR Officer, 8433 N. Clifton Ave., Niles, IL 60714
Bohdan Dudycz, Colchester, Conn.
Ihor Rudko, Colchester, Conn.
Bohdan Dudycz is the UAV’s publications officer; Ihor Rudko is the organization’s national commander.