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January 2025 Update - Trucks for Ukraine, UAO Shop Updates & Camouflage Info
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Dear Supporters of Ukraine,
The situation on the frontlines remains tense: Pokrovsk and Velyka Novosilka may be captured soon by the enemy. An unexpectedly mild winter and flatter down-river terrain could facilitate Russian advances towards Pavlohrad and Kramatorsk. Meanwhile, North Korea continues its military support of the enemy, and so, the defenders of Ukraine continue facing an uphill task.
Go to: Truck Fundraiser
After Donald Trump’s inauguration as the new President of the United States of America this week, his and his team’s stance on military and civil support of Ukraine remains uncertain. While the President himself suggested stifling Russia’s war economy through lower global oil prices – oil being a major contributor to Russia’s state income, financing the war – no discernible and coherent strategy has yet emerged. The coming weeks may hopefully reveal what the U.S. intends to do, for better or worse.
The good news is that the Ukrainian defence industry continues scaling up its production of long-range drones and missiles substantially, both in terms of capability and quantity. The number of strikes on oil refineries, command posts, and ammunition storages increased considerably, affecting the enemy’s in terms of supplying its forces and financing its war.
This newsletter features our latest fundraiser for pickup trucks, new arrivals in our UAO shop and Victory gallery – with an exclusive discount code for newsletter subscribers – and some insights into the function and use of thermal camouflage capes we supply.
Your UAO Volunteer Team
Help UAO and Car4Ukraine to supply three pickups
Pickup trucks have become essential means of transportation for the defenders of Ukraine – moving soldiers to and from the frontlines, to evacuate the wounded, to deliver munitions, and for many other logistics tasks. The shortage of “battle taxis”, of APCs (armoured personnel carriers), is felt every single day, and pickup trucks have become the alternative of choice soon after the Russian invasion began.
UAO has delivered several pickup trucks and SUVs in the past, as well as many drone jammers to protect such frontline vehicles. This time, supported by your donations, we aim to raise $32,000 (€30,000) for three reliable used pickup trucks, dedicated to the three units mentioned below.
For this particular fundraiser, we join forces with the volunteers from Car4Ukraine that specialise in the procurement and delivery of 4x4 vehicles since 2022. They delivered well over 500 pickup trucks to the frontlines to date. Car4Ukraine not only sources and delivers vehicles, but also checks and prepares them for use on the battlefield, fixing mechanics, adding armour, and making other alterations and improvements, before handing them over to AFU units in need.
Go to: Truck Fundraiser
We intend to support these three units:
1. 80th Separate Assault Brigade, 2nd Assault Battalion
This is a large brigade, formed by soldiers from the Galicia region, including the city of Lviv, and is part of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces. The brigade is a high-mobility branch of the military, with ground forces that also operate attack drones. The brigade has asked us for pick-up trucks to improve their transportation to and from the battlefield, logistics, and evacuations.
2. 24th Separate Mechanised Brigade, mortar battery
This brigade comes with a rich history – it is known as "King Daniel of Galicia" of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It fought in the war in Donbas in 2014, 2015, and 2018. From the very start of the Russian invasion, the 24th Brigade has been involved in numerous battles against the Russian armed forces. It has also successfully fought the Wagner Group and valiantly proved itself in the Battle of Lysychansk and Battle of Donbas. Its mortar units must be swift and highly mobile, and must transport not only its mortars, but also large amounts of heavy munitions. The brigade asked us to provide pickup trucks to enhance soldiers’ movements to and from the frontline, and to improve overall logistics.
3. 42nd Separate Mechanised Brigade Brigade, 422nd Separate Rifle Battalion
The 42nd Brigade is fighting in the Kharkiv direction since May 2024, providing support to the 125th Territorial Defense Brigade. After the arrival of elements of the 92nd Assault Brigade, it stopped the Russian advance by taking positions in the village of Lyptsi. The units’ drone operators fly up to 20 km deep into Belgorod Oblast to find and destroy enemy targets. This battalion also includes snipers and international volunteer fighters that carry out special operations. The brigade remains stationed in the Kharkiv region for the time being, and struggles with mud and snow, hampering logistics and fighting. It asked us for armoured pickup trucks to move soldiers to/from the frontlines and evacuate the wounded.
Only recently, after it served our ground team in Ukraine as a delivery vehicle for 1.5 years, we handed our “workhorse” UAO Ford Ranger over to our friends from the National Guard.
Go to: Truck Fundraiser
New artworks in the UAO shop and Victory Gallery
$348,136 – an incredible sum of funds you all helped to raise, buying items from our UAO shop and Victory Gallery in 2024. With your generous support, we bought countless drones, drone jammers, power stations and so much more. Your contributions continue allowing us to purchase essential equipment, and to supply you with unique giveaways and memorabilia.
The UAO shop offers unit patches and flags, and other exclusive giveaways from units we support. Often, as a sign of gratitude, they hand over signed flags when our delivery team meets them near the frontlines. We put each flag up for sale to raise more funds, enabling us to buy more equipment. Every patch and flag is a symbol of valour and bravery, an icon of the defenders of Ukraine.
Just recently, the UAO shop saw new additions, like this flag from the 5th Assault Brigade. Please have a look at what’s new – every purchase you make supports us supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Using the code “NEWSLETTER15”, subscribers will benefit from an exclusive 15% discount on all items shown.
Go to: UAO SHOP
Also, our UAO Victory Gallery truly stands out. It is run by our volunteer and curator Lenny, who, with a team of Ukrainian artists, oversees the conversion of debris of war into unique collectibles - the enemy’s remains advance his own defeat, one artwork at a time.
Since last month, the Victory Gallery now features a new section – “Friends of Ukraine”. There, you can find artworks specifically dedicated to supporting nations from all over the world – America, Britain, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, and many others. Lenny’s team of artists created memorabilia dedicated to over 30 nations, so please have a look at what is available for yours. The “NEWSLETTER15” discount code applies to purchases made from the Victory Gallery also.
Go to: Victory Gallery
We delivered much equipment in January also, procured with the proceeds of your purchases from the UAO shop and Victory Gallery - for example FPV drones and critical tech equipment for the defenders in the Eastern directions.
Know the gear - thermal camouflage capes
Soldiers use thermal camouflage capes to reduce and conceal their thermal signature, sometimes also that of equipment. They are designed to shield heat, infrared radiation (IR), making it harder for thermal imaging devices to detect the wearer. Thermal camouflage capes are usually made from materials that...:
- Reflect - direct heat away from the surface to blend with the surrounding environment.
- Insulate - Trap the wearer's body heat to prevent it from escaping and becoming a visible signature.
- Disperse - Minimise hot spots that thermal vision sensors can easily detect.
The capes we buy are lightweight, pocketable, and can be used with other military gear for extra utility, and they enhance survivability and offer tactical advantages on the battlefield.
What are they good for?
Concealment from thermal imaging devices:
- Modern surveillance and targeting systems often use thermal imaging cameras to detect heat signatures. Thermal camouflage capes help soldiers remain undetectable by masking or reducing their infrared radiation, blending them into the ambient environment
Stealth operations:
- In missions requiring high levels of stealth, such as reconnaissance or infiltration, these capes are critical in avoiding detection by enemy forces equipped with thermal imaging technologies
Protection against drones:
- Many drones and aircraft are equipped with infrared sensors for spotting heat signatures. Thermal camouflage capes help reduce visibility from aerial reconnaissance, especially in open or sparsely vegetated areas
Equipment concealment:
- Beyond personnel, thermal camouflage technology can be extended to vehicles, weapons, and other equipment, preventing these assets from being identified through their heat emissions
Survivability in combat:
By masking heat emissions, soldiers are less likely to be targeted by heat-seeking missiles or other weapons systems that rely on infrared guidance
Thank you for standing strong with Ukraine. Together we will win this war!
Sincerely, the UAO volunteer team.
Heroyam Slava!