Dear Supporters of Ukraine,
This newsletter marks the 4th anniversary of the Russian full-scale “Kyiv in three days” invasion of Ukraine, and the nation emerges from the harshest winter in two decades, with aerial assaults on energy, industrial, and rail infrastructure remaining at a far higher level than a year ago. Russia - luckily - still only advances very slowly, while re-iterating its original goals - the complete subjugation of Ukraine and annihilation of its culture.
Donate to our new "100 Ground Drones" Fundraiser: LINK
Unfortunately, after American military support stopped with Trump coming into power, the Western Europeans only partially fulfilled their role, and the russophile governments of Hungary and Slovakia go out of their way to obstruct the all-important financial aid package Ukraine urgently needs. The war of attrition has entered yet another year, and there is no foreseeable conclusion. Ukraine is far from giving up, and so are we. With another war in the Middle-East just having started as we were putting the finishing touches to this newsletter, we sincerely hope that the Ukrainian cause will remain in people's hearts and minds, and that Ukraine will continue receiving the support it so urgently needs.
This UAO February update provides you with interesting insights about...
- Our latest "4 Years of War" fundraiser to procure 100 ground drones
- UAO volunteers telling their story
- Our February front line deliveries
Thank you for supporting Ukraine since four (!) long years!
Your UAO Volunteer Team
Four-wheeled friends - 100 ground drones will save 100s of lives
Over the years, the unprecedented “drone war”, as it is fought in Ukraine, expanded to all three domains - air, water, and ground. From the start of Russia’s invasion, the skies became contested with ever more surveillance and assault drones of all types and sizes, and the Ukrainian forces also began to interdict the Russian invader on the Dnipro and in the Black Sea, rendering much of Russia’s “mighty” fleet by and large inoperable.
Eventually, the war entered the current attrition phase, and the “kill zone” that expanded to up to 30 kilometres deep, more recently also the hinterland, became infested first with RF and then fibre-optic controlled FPV drones. Ukraine’s valiant frontline soldiers are forced to hold their mud-soaked defensive positions, whether in tree-lines, in the open, or shattered villages, often for months.
Against this backdrop, where driving and walking became lethal risks, Ukraine innovated once again, developing and adopting Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), or “Ground Drones”, that resupply infantry and drone teams with ammunition, batteries, food, water, medical supplies, and just about anything imaginable - the 108th Separate Assault Battalion “Da Vinci Wolves” even supplied birthday cakes or Shawarma, bringing much needed joy in times of ultimate dread. In short, UGVs became essential lifelines for frontline soldiers, day and night.
Just recently, we provided two "Targan" ground drones to operators from the Khartiia Brigade. They will be used for evacuations and supply operations.
Of course, just like their aerial counterparts, UGVs are not immune to kinetic or electronic interdiction, and they are fiercely attacked by Russian UAVs. However, not all are destroyed and lost - many reach their target with only one properly functioning track, or only two functioning wheels. Most importantly, no precious human life is lost, and ultimately that is what counts. Larger UGVs are also used to evacuate the wounded, sometimes the fallen, as Ukrainian soldiers are determined to leave no one behind. The emotional toll of not being able to rescue or retrieve a comrade is immense.
UAO has delivered around 20 UGVs to date; only recently, one was supplied to a marine unit facing severe logistics problems. Ready to use, in only two days 1700 kilograms of supplies were transported, and 126 kilometres covered - all under front line conditions, with no soldier sacrificed. Every such report makes it abundantly clear that UGVs are the way forward to strengthen the operability and effectiveness of any unit, while reducing the number of wounded and killed.
All of the above are good reasons why our new fundraiser aims to raise sufficient funds to procure and deliver 100 UGVs - highly impactful for those units that so far are not able to obtain and deploy such “four-wheeled friends”. Thankfully, the Dutch “Diel Foundation” will join our effort, aiming to cover the cost for 45 UGVs. Because UGV production takes time, and with UAO not being the only customer, we have already placed an order, which will allow us, once the fundraiser is completed, to obtain and deliver the goods at the soonest opportunity. Please support this most important campaign!
Donate to our new "100 Ground Drones" Fundraiser: LINK
A four-wheeled friend named "Targan"... and a four-pawed companion ; )
UAO volunteers tell their story
Sytske - I joined UAO in April 2022. For me it was immediately clear, when you want Ukraine to survive you need to help the army above all. My task is overall coordination, helping both with fundraising as well as deliveries, administration / finance and logistics. Even though four years of war has left its traces on my family and professional life, the trust of donors in our organisation and the real impact we have, saving lives on a daily basis, keeps me going.
Jonathan - How did you start to help as a volunteer, and what do you do? I joined in April 2022. These days for UAO I mostly do sexy work like helping manage our US entity's administration, regulatory reporting, and sending bank wires that fund a lot of our equipment purchases.
Why do you support Ukraine? I believe we sit at a historical inflection point; a free Ukraine is massively important for the future of Europe and the free world. We should not allow bullies like Russia to win, and they can be stopped if Ukraine receives enough help. And I know that individual action can make a difference, since I see proof of it on a regular basis in the reports from the guys at the front lines who receive the aid you amazing donors help provide.
After 4 years of war, what keeps you motivated? After 4 years of war, what keeps me motivated is the success, bravery and resolve of the soldiers and citizens in Ukraine, and the understanding that only through Ukraine's military strength will Russia ever be stopped.
Torhalla - How did you start to help as a volunteer, and what do you do? A week after the full-scale war started, I took a plane to Poland and went to the border to help women and children who were suddenly in a very vulnerable position. In the first couple of months, this more or less remained our focus until my focus shifted to helping out the army and I started delivering pickups and aid from London to Ukraine. Although I try to do less driving myself now, these days I am mostly the "middle person" between different units and organisations, sponsors and companies to find support for the units who need it the most, and also help with planning fundraising campaigns, logistics and communications. I also go to the east regularly to meet the units in person, especially when we have a bigger team from Ukraine Aid Ops together in the country.
Why do you support Ukraine? I’m from Estonia and we share the same neighbour, and the same historical memory. For us, this war isn’t abstract or distant - it’s about the rules that determine whether small countries get to exist on their own terms. Ukraine isn’t only defending its own sovereignty; it’s holding the line for all of us who live next to an aggressive power. Their resistance also makes my country safer.
After 4 years of war, what keeps you motivated? What keeps me motivated is people around me and most importantly, those for whom it is not an option to quit: soldiers in the frontline. Seeing how they have so much drive and come up with new ways to defend their own country is what keeps me motivated to continue doing everything we can to support Ukraine. It never feels enough, but knowing that we can make even a small difference is enough to know that I am doing the right thing.
CPU - How did you start to help as a volunteer, and what do you do? I started to help immediately in 2022, first with refugees. In 2023, I spent a couple of months in Ukraine to help locally (mostly at "Lviv Volunteer Kitchen"). Then I started collaborating with Ukraine Aid Ops by blurring pictures and subtitling videos. I never ceased to provide financial support for numerous fundraising events.
Why do you support Ukraine? Ukraine is part of me; my daughter is half Ukrainian, and I have family and friends in Ukraine. Furthermore, I support those who are in the right, rather than the aggressor.
After 4 years of war, what keeps you motivated? I keep going because stopping is one of the worst possible ideas.
Sytske, Jonathan, Torhalla & CPU
Andreas - How did you start to help as a volunteer, and what do you do? I started donating in 2022 from day one of the full-scale invasion. In 2023, after having driven from Odesa to Kharkiv for the first time, seeing the grim reality on the ground, I wanted to do more, particularly for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After discovering UAO online, I joined the collective effort. I put together the newsletter, purchase equipment whenever possible, and drive to various regions of Ukraine as often as work permits - to listen to the people, to bring some equipment along, and, since autumn 2025, to teach Ukrainian students in Ukraine.
Why do you support Ukraine? Until the full-scale invasion, Germany was the number one supporter of Russia for decades - economically, politically, culturally. The worst atrocities and battles of World War II occurred on Ukrainian soil. Born in Germany, it is out of the question for me not to support Ukraine by any possible means.
After 4 years of war, what keeps you motivated? The passing of time doesn’t turn righteous causes into negligible ones. Throwing in the towel was and remains no option.
Cat - How did you start to help as a volunteer, and what do you do? I saw a post online asking for volunteers to help and it was something I really wanted to do. I repost social media postings on Bluesky and YouTube and sometimes find music for videos or images.
Why do you support Ukraine? I support Ukraine because I want Ukraine to be free and sovereign and have all its original territories and it's the right thing to do.
After 4 years of war, what keeps you motivated? I am always motivated because I believe Ukraine will eventually succeed and I want to see the invaders removed from Ukrainian territory.
Bastian - How did you start to help as a volunteer, and what do you do? After the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, I started following the war like many of us daily on social media. UAO was one of the first organizations providing protective equipment (to that time the focus was mainly on bullet-proof vests, helmets and medical equipment), so I also started following the team. As I donated several times via the German Amazon wishlist myself, I initially started in June 2022 with maintaining the Amazon wishlist, and with finding smaller corporate sponsors (such as SwissEye). Over time, my responsibilities widened, so today I am contributing to fundraising, communicating and connecting with social media influencers who support us, organizing (free) online advertisement, building the UAO webpage, maintaining the UAO shop, helping the newsletter team, or making social media posts.
Why do you support Ukraine? My girlfriend (now wife) of 11 years comes from Kyiv, we met in 2014 in South Korea in University. In normal times, I am in Kyiv 2-3 times per year. After the full-scale invasion started, her mother and grandmother drove out of Kyiv and stayed with us for 6 months in Cologne. So I am very much personally invested.
After 4 years of war, what keeps you motivated? To be honest, after 4 years of volunteering (besides one’s regular job), it is hard sometimes. Occasionally, I have not really the feeling of being "motivated", but that I rather consider it a duty to help. But what keeps many of us going is certainly seeing the outcome of our volunteering work. Our support makes an impact, and if not on the grand scale of things, at least for each individual soldier whom we help.
Donate to our new "100 Ground Drones" Fundraiser: LINK
Andreas, Cat & Bastian
February Deliveries - thank you for your constant support
To end our February 2026 newsletter on a high note, see the positive impact your donations had on many front line soldiers below. Our ground team in Ukraine, particularly Yuri and Torhalla, did not tire making delivery trips, or organising equipment pick-ups at the UAO warehouse. We supplied the units below, and also others, with essential equipment like surveillance drones, ground drones, generators, power stations, and much more:
- 59th Assault Brigade
- Arey Regiment
- 54th Reconnaissance Battalion
- 82nd Air Assault Brigade
- Rubizh Brigade
- Khartiia Brigade
- 79th Air Assault Brigade
- 22nd Mechanized Brigade
- 3rd Assault Brigade
- 38th Marine Brigade
- Tayfun Drone Unit
- 42nd Mechanized Brigade
- Presidential Brigade
- 30th Mechanized Brigade
- 17th Special Purpose Center
Donate to our new "100 Ground Drones" Fundraiser: LINK
With your help, we made dozens of deliveries during last week! One the photos you see deliveries to the 42nd Mechanized Brigade, 3rd Assault Brigade, 17th Special Purpose Center and the 38th Marine Brigade.
Thank you for standing strong with Ukraine. Together we will win this war!
Sincerely, the UAO volunteer team.
Heroyam Slava!